on was catching; for the others joined in the laugh,
and in this merry mood returned to the garden.

CHAPTER LX. A RETURN HOME

The morning that followed this scene broke very happily on the villa;
for Augustus was to arrive by the afternoon packet, and all were eager
to meet him. His telegram said, "Cutbill is with me; but I do not know
if he will stop." And this announcement, indeed, more than tempered the
pleasure they felt at the thought of meeting Augustus.

Jack, whose sailor's eye had detected a thin streak of smoke in the sky
long ere the others had seen it, and knew by what time the steamer
might arrive, hastened down to the shore to meet his brother alone, not
wishing that the first meeting should be observed by others. And he
was so far right. Men as they were,--tried and hardened by the world's
conflict,--they could not speak as they clasped each other in their
arms; and when they separated to gaze at each other's faces, their eyes
swam in heavy tears. "My poor fellow!" was all that Augustus could
say for several minutes, till, struck by the manly vigor and dignified
bearing of the other, he cried out, "What a great powerful fellow you
have grown, Jack! You are twice as strong as you used to be."

"Strong enough, Gusty; but I suppose I shall need it all. But how comes
it that you have gray hair here?"

"You find me terribly changed, Jack! I have aged greatly since we met."

"You are tired, now, old fellow. A little rest, and the pleasant care of
the villa will soon set you up again."

"Perhaps so. At all events, I have strength enough for what I am called
on to bear. How are they all?"

"Well and hearty. I 'd say jollier than I ever saw them before."

"What a noble girl is Nelly!"

"Ay, and her companion, too. I tell you, Gusty, there's the same comrade
spirit amongst girls that there is in a ship's company; and where good
ones come together they make each other better. But tell me now of
yourself. What's your news?"

"Not good; far from it. I believe, indeed, our cause is 'up.'
He--Pracontal, I mean--intends to behave handsomely by us. There will
be no severity used. Indeed, he means to go further; but I 'll have time
enough for all this later on. I 'm so glad to see you again, my poor
dear fellow, that I have no mind to think of anything else."

"How did you get rid of Cutbill?"

"I have n't got rid of him; he is on board there. I don't think he means
to land. I suspect he 'll go on wi