he sat very still, her eyes intent upon the page. Then at last she
glanced up. Uncle Tom's head had fallen back on the pillows and for the
first time in many days he slept.

* * * *

So did Jean Cabot find her summer planned for her. Instead of joining
Uncle Bob and enjoying months of bathing and sailing on the North Shore
she helped nurse Uncle Tom Curtis back to health. For the breakdown
proved to be of much longer duration than any of them had foreseen. The
exhausted system was slow in reacting and it was weeks before the
turning point toward recovery was reached. During those tedious hours
of waiting Jean was the sole person who could bring a smile to the sick
man's face or rouse in him a shadow of interest in what was going on
about him. "Her price was above rubies," the doctor said. She was
better than sunshine or fresh air; she was, in fact, the only hope of
bringing the invalid back to his normal self.

And when those grim days passed and Uncle Tom began to be better, how
he clung to the girl--clung to her with an affection which neither of
them had felt before. It was the realization of his dependence that
made Jean send to Uncle Bob that letter, the last lines of which read:

"I feel more strongly than I can tell you, dear Uncle Bob, that
for the present my place is here. Uncle Tom needs me and cannot do
without me. You have Hannah to help you keep house and you can get
on; but he has nobody but me. When he is quite strong again I will
come to Boston, but until I do I am sure you'll understand that
although I cannot be with you, I love you just the same.

"Jean."

A reply came back by wire.

"Goodness!" exclaimed Jean as she opened the long telegram. "I hope
nothing is the matter. Uncle Bob never sends telegrams. He must have
been reckless to spend his money on such a long message as this."

"You are doing just right. Stay as long as needed, but remember
Boston home waits whenever you wish to come. Hannah has proved
inadequate housekeeper. Have new one. Miss Cartright and I were
married in New York to-day.

"Uncle Bob."

Jean's reading stopped with a jerk. She was speechless. So great was
her joy, her surprise, that not a word would come to her tongue.

Then Uncle Tom remarked dryly:

"I guess your Uncle Bob was a bit reckless about the time he sent that
wire. The only wonder is the telegram wasn't twice as