ted to the study.
No Randolf was there, only pen, ink, paper, and algebra. But as she was
greeting Owen, who looked much better and less oppressed, Honor made an
exclamation, and from the window they saw the young man leaning over the
sundial, partly studying its mysteries, partly playing with little Owen,
who hung on him as an old playmate.

'Yes,' said Owen, 'he has taken pity on the boy--he is very good to
him--has served an apprenticeship.'

Mr. Randolf looked up, saw Phoebe, gave a start of recognition and
pleasure, and sped towards the house.

'Yes, Phoebe, I do see _some_ likeness,' said Honor, as though a good
deal struck and touched.

All the ridiculous and troublesome confusion was so good as to be driven
away in the contentment of Humfrey Randolf's presence, and the wondrous
magnetic conviction that he was equally glad to be with her. She lost
all restlessness, and was quite ready to amuse Owen by a lively
discussion and comparison of the two weddings, but she so well knew that
she should like to stay too long, that she cut her time rather over
short, and would not stay to luncheon. This was not like the evenings
that began with Hiawatha and ended at Lakeville, or on Lake Ontario; but
one pleasure was in store for Phoebe. While she was finding her
umbrella, and putting on her clogs, Humfrey Randolf ran down-stairs to
her, and said, 'I wanted to tell you something. My stepmother is going
to be married.'

'You are glad?'

'Very glad. It is to a merchant whom she met at Buffalo, well off, and
speaking most kindly of the little boys.'

'That must be a great load off your mind.'

'Indeed it is, though the children must still chiefly look to me. I
should like to have little George at a good school. However, now their
immediate maintenance is off my hands, I have more to spend in educating
myself. I can get evening lessons now, when my day's work is over.'

'Oh! do not overstrain your head,' said Phoebe, thinking of Bertha.

'Heads can bear a good deal when they are full of hope,' he said,
smiling.

'Still after your out-of-doors life of bodily exercise, do you not find
it hard to be always shut up in London?'

'Perhaps the novelty has not worn off. It is as if life had only begun
since I came into the city.'

'A new set of faculties called into play?'

'Faculties--yes, and everything else.'

'I must go now, or my sisters will be waiting for me, and I see your
dinner coming in. Good-by