quite that. A curious sense of emotion at the thought that the
sweet place, the beautiful old house, was to be his own, came over
him; and another far-off dream darted into his mind as well, which
he did not dare to shape. He got up and wrote a short note.


"MY DEAR AUNT,--Your letter fills me with astonishment. I can only
say that I accept in love and gratitude what you offer me. The
feeling that I have found a home and a mother, so suddenly and so
unexpectedly, fills me with joy and happiness. I think with sadness
of all the good years I have missed, by a sort of stupid
perversity; but I won't regard that now. I will only thank you once
more with all my heart for the proof of affection which your letter
gives me.--Your grateful and affectionate nephew,

"HOWARD KENNEDY."


The old house had a welcoming air as he passed through it that
morning; it seemed to hold him in its patient embrace, to ask for
love. He spent the morning with Jack, but in a curiously distracted
mood.

"What has happened to you?" said Jack at the end of the morning.
"You have not been thinking about what you are doing. You seem like
a man who has been stroking a winning crew. Has the Master been
made a Dean, and have you been elected Master? They say you have a
chance."

Howard laughed and said, "You are very sharp, Jack! I have NOT been