long."

Giusippe was the next to find his voice.

"Well!" he ejaculated. "And we never even dreamed it! At last, Jean,
you've got your wish. Your good fairy has given you an _aunt_!"

"And such an aunt!" Jean added.

CHAPTER XII

JEAN AND GIUSIPPE EACH FIND A NICHE IN LIFE

During Uncle Tom's illness and slow recovery Giusippe became the
messenger between Mr. Curtis's residence and his office. It was,
however, weeks before there was any link connecting the two. But as
health returned there came to the invalid a gradual revival of interest
in affairs at the glass works. Nevertheless the doctor was a cautious
man and at first permitted only the slightest allusions to be made to
business. Later, as strength increased, Mr. Curtis was allowed to look
over at home mail, papers, and specifications and put his signature to
a few important documents, and since Giusippe was almost constantly at
the house what was more natural than that he should become the
go-between? Mr. Curtis dropped into explaining to the boy from time to
time many confidential matters and directing him as to what he wished
done regarding them. The young Italian, as his employer soon found, was
quick to grasp a situation and could be relied upon to fulfil
instructions to the letter and without blundering. Such a person was of
inestimable value during those days of convalescence.

So it came about that Giusippe spent less and less of his time in his
own department in the glass works and more and more in Mr. Curtis's
private office. Before long, boy though he was, he had quite a complete
comprehension of the older man's affairs and proved himself most useful
to the head of the firm who was fighting his way back to health. It was
so easy to say:

"Regarding this letter, I wish, Giusippe, you would see that such and
such a reply is sent. Look it over yourself before it goes out to be
sure that the stenographer has correctly caught my idea."

Or:

"Go and tell Levin of the sheet glass department that I want these
orders filled before any others are shipped. Attend to it yourself,
and make certain he clearly understands."

[Illustration: "I WANT THESE ORDERS FILLED"]

To drop any portion of the detail of his mighty business upon younger
shoulders, or in fact upon any shoulders at all was a thing which, but
a short time before, Mr. Curtis would have considered impossible. But
now, to his surprise, he found himself actually doing it to an amazi