during the time appointed for their daily lessons, and, being aware of
the cause, I could hardly blame them. Their suspense was at length ended
by the arrival of Willie. Never shall I forget the joy which was
depicted upon the countenance of little Lewis when suddenly he burst
into my room, exclaiming,

"Oh! Miss Roscom, our dear, _dear_ brother Willie has come at last!
Don't you wish you had a brother Willie too?"

Had he known the pang which his childish remark occasioned me he
certainly would never have made it. With much difficulty I kept back my
tears and tried to appear as much pleased as the child evidently wished
me to be. I had been accustomed, since my residence in the family, to
spend my evening mostly with them in the parlor; but on that evening I
remained in my own room, feeling that I should be an intruder upon that
family reunion. I took up a book and endeavored to interest myself in
its pages. I could distinctly hear the joyous murmur of voices from
below, varied by bursts of laughter, not loud, but strikingly mirthful.
I soon heard light footsteps ascending the stairs; the next moment
Birdie rushed in, exclaiming,

"Mamma says she has been so much occupied that she had almost forgotten
you; but she says you must come down at once; you mustn't sit here alone
when we are all so happy."

I begged to be excused from going down, saying that they would probably
prefer being left to themselves on this evening of Willie's return.

"Oh!" said she, "Papa and mamma both expect you to go down."