told him she was to marry his wreck of a brother; then when he believed
it, another half hour would hardly be enough for him to welcome her
into the family of Hope, and to talk over the wonderful fortunes of its
sons. Doubtless he had felt it incumbent on himself to sing my
praises, for he had always been blind to my faults. In this
possibility of his tarrying to display my virtues there was some
compensation for my sitting alone, with old Captain and young Colonel,
both sleeping, and only my pipe for company. Of course, I should
really be there with Tim, but Nanny Pulsifer and Mrs. Spiker had
decreed otherwise. Who knows how great may be my reward for bringing
them safely past the graveyard!

The third pipe snuffled out. I opened the door and listened. Tim's
minutes are long, for the last light in the village is out now. I went
to the gate and stood there till I caught the sound of foot-falls.
Then I whistled softly. There was no reply, but in a moment Perry
Thomas stepped into the light of our window.

"Good-evening," he said cheerfully. "It's rather chilly to be
swinging on the gate."

"I was waiting for Tim," I answered.

Perry gave a little dry cackle. "Let's go in," he said. "It's too
cold out here to discuss these great events."

I did not know what he meant, neither did I much care, for Perry always
treated the most trivial affairs in the most elegant language he knew.
But now that he stood there with his back to the fire, warming his
hands, he made himself more clear.