for more than twenty years. Perhaps you wouldn't mind if we celebrated
the event and tried to do justice to this luncheon. Matilda, let me
give you this seat of honor at the head of the table. Andrew, old
scout, you are to sit opposite your wife Boys, find places, and I'll
take this seat."

Matilda and Andrew allowed themselves to be almost pushed into their
respective chairs. They were dumb, and seemed almost in a dream.
Matilda could not take her wondering eyes off this astonishing
brother of hers, who now must have looked very like the fairy prince
to her. She was an automaton in his hands, and he could have done
anything with her. But, of course, presently she would awaken,
and find it all one of those amazing dreams that so often come to
tantalize the very poor.

Now Brother Lu was standing there. He bent forward and looked
affectionately at his sister. His eyes were sparkling still, but from
quite another cause, Hugh saw; though his own orbs were also dimmed,
and he had to wink very rapidly in order to keep the tears from flowing
down his cheeks.

"Well, Matilda, how do you like your new home?" said Brother Lu;
"for henceforth you and your husband are to live here to the end
of your days. It has been bought, and placed in your name. Yes,
I'm going to own up, sister mine, that Brother Lu had been playing
a cruel joke, but with a good object. I'm not a poor, forlorn hobo,
as I led you to believe, neither am I dying by inches. I hope to
live some years yet, to see the two I love drink heartily from the
cup of happiness. All this is but a drop in the bucket to what
is coming. You shall make up for some of the lean years you've