to avoid the
shadow.

"Come in, come in," said Bright. "We will make the gentleman as
comfortable as we can."

"You have forgotten me, I see," said Tite, smiling and extending his
hand.

"God bless me!" exclaimed Bright, grasping his hand in a paroxysm of
delight; "if here isn't Tite Toodleburg cum home. Come in, come in.
Welcome home." After shaking him warmly by the hand and leading him into
the parlor, the inn-keeper ran and brought his wife, who welcomed the
young man with the tenderness of a mother. The good woman would have had
a fire made and supper prepared, and indeed entertained him for the rest
of the night, expressing her joy over his return, had he not told her
how great was his anxiety to see his parents.

"I know who it is the young man wants to see," said Bright, touching him
on the elbow and nodding his head suggestively. "And there'll be a
flutter up stairs when it's told her you're cum home."

The boatmen had remained in the hall. Bright now invited them into his
bar and filled mugs of ale for them, and joined them in drinking the
health of the young man who had been round the world. He then dismissed
them, saying he would take care of the young gentleman's baggage; and
stepping up stairs, tapped gently at Chapman's door. "We were all
retiring for the night," said Mrs. Chapman, opening the door slightly,
and looking alarmed, for Bright was in a flutter of excitement, and it
was nearly a minute before he could tell what he wanted. At length he
stammered out: "There, there, there--there's a strange gentleman down
stairs, mam--and he would like to see Miss Mattie, I am sure he would."

"Mr. Bright," replied Mrs. Chapman, tossing her head and compressing her
lips, "he can't be much of a gentleman to come at this hour of night. My
daughter has no acquaintance who would presume to take such a liberty.
Etiquette forbids it."

Mattie now made her appearance, with a book half open in her left hand,
and looking anxious and agitated. Then resting her right hand on her
mother's shoulder, "Mr. Bright," she enquired, in a hesitating voice,
"what does the gentleman look like?"

"A nice gentleman enough, Miss--"

"Is it any one you know?"

"Why, Miss," resumed Bright, with an air of reluctance, "wouldn't
intrude at this house, but I know you'd like to see the gentleman; and
wouldn't be particular about the time."

Mattie fixed her eyes on Bright with a steady gaze, her agitation
increased, her face ch