He did not kiss her, as he had kissed his sisters; but
he pressed her hand kindly, and spoke to her in a very brotherly tone,
inquiring how she was, and expressing delight at seeing her again.

As soon as she had recovered her self-possession, her eyes began to beam
with pleasure, and her tongue found words. When Sarah came up, the two
were sitting side by side upon a trunk; and Chester was rattling away
at a great rate, telling his poor cousin of his adventures.

He went into another room to perform his ablutions, and Hepsy was left
alone, her veins thrilling, her head dizzy, and all her nerves unstrung.
The meeting, the surprise, the agitation and the joy, had been too much
for her sensitive nature; and she sought relief in a flood of tears.

Chester was very restless. Scarcely was he seated again in the
sitting-room, with his cravat freshly-tied, and his hair and whiskers
newly-curled, when he thought of a call he wished to make before night.
His mother scolded him dreadfully for running off so soon; but he did
not mind it, and ordered Sam to bring his horse to the door.

The children were all around him, begging him not to go; but Willie
encouraged the idea, provided he could go too, and ride behind.

"O, you can't ride this time," said Chester.

"Yes, I can. Sam tickled my foot; I couldn't ride good before," whined
the child.

But his brother did not acknowledge his claims to indemnification, and
mounted the horse. Willie began to cry, and, seizing a hoe, charged upon
Samuel furiously, as the author of all his woes.

Chester laughed; but his mother cried out from the doorway, "Do let him
ride! Why can't you?" and he called Sam to put the little hero up. He
took him over the pommel of the saddle, and galloped away in fine style,
leaving George crying with envy.

Willie was delighted, feeling no fear in Chester's arms; and when the
latter asked him, in a coaxing tone, if he would go back, the little
fellow said he would; and his brother swung him down by the arm from the
saddle-bow. He went trudging through the sand, to meet the other
children, and brag of his ride while the young man galloped gayly over
the hill.

III.

EVENING AT THE FARM-HOUSE.

It was dusk when Chester returned. Riding up to the barn-door, he found
Sam trying to make the cat draw a basket of eggs by a twine harness. Sam
jumped up quickly, having cast off the traces, and began to whistle very
innocently. The cat in harness d