worry--" seeing how her face clouded, "he is only tired out. He has been
working at the office and writing so many letters--"

"That I should have written. Poor dear father! I hope he is not going to
have another spell," and Dorothy sighed.

"No, the doctor said he would be all right if he would only stay quiet,
but he is about as quiet as my squirrel in its new cage," said Joe.

"Home again," called Dorothy, waving her hand to the major who now
appeared on the piazza. "Here we are, bag and baggage," and then it
seemed all the "pain of separation" was made up for in that loving
embrace--the major had the Little Captain in his arms again.




CHAPTER XXVI

DOROTHY'S COURAGE


"Dorothy," said the major, when all the news from Aunt Winnie's had been
told and retold to Joe and Roger, "I want you to come to my study after
tea. I have something to say to you."

The major was seated in his favorite chair at the open window. Dorothy
thought he looked handsomer every day, as his hair became whiter, and
now as she came to him for the business talk, she wondered who in all
the world could have so loving and so noble a father.