with the boy's name, bless my soul, I never saw such a
creature before, Daniel, never! If I had I--I--Blast it all; I
wouldn't be bossed by Sarah and the girls, I wouldn't. See in that
young man and woman what God meant men and women to be. Told them
they ought to marry; that they owed it to the race. You know my
ideas, Daniel. Think they will?"

The shepherd laughed, a laugh that was good to hear.

"What's the matter now, Daniel? What is the matter? Have I said
anything wrong again? Blast it all; you know how I always do the
wrong thing. Have I?"

"No, indeed, David; you are exactly right," returned Mr. Howitt.
"But tell me, did you see no one else at the house? There is
another member of the family."

The doctor nodded. "I saw him; Pete, you mean. Looked him over.
Mr. Matthews asked me to. Sad case, very sad. Hopeless, absolutely
hopeless, Daniel."

"Pete has not seemed as well as usual lately. I fear so much night
roaming is not good for the boy," returned the other slowly. "But
tell me, how are Sarah and the girls? Still looking after Dr.
Davie, I suppose."

"Just the same; haven't changed a bit; not a bit. Jennie looks
after my socks and handkerchiefs; Mary looks after my shirts and
linen; Anna looks after my ties and shoes; Sue looks after my hats
and coats; and Kate looks after the things I eat; and Sarah, Sarah
looks after everything and everybody, same as always. Blast it
all! If they'd give me a show, I'd be as good as ever; good as
ever, Daniel. What can a man do; what can a man do, with an only
sister and her five old maid daughters looking after him from
morning until night, from morning until night, Daniel? Tell them I
am a full grown man; don't do no good; no good at all. Blast it
all; poor old things, just got to mother something; got to,
Daniel."

While he was speaking, his eyes were dancing from one object to
another in the shepherd's rude dwelling, turning for frequent
quick glances to Dad himself. "You live here, you? You ought not,
Daniel, you ought not. What would Sarah and the girls say? Blast
it all; what do you mean by it? I ordered you away on a vacation.
You disappear. Think you dead; row in the papers, mystery; I hate
mystery. Blast it all; what does it mean, what does it all mean?
Not fair to me, Daniel; not fair."

By this time the little man had worked himself up to an
astonishing pitch of excitement; his eyes snapped; his words came
like pistol shots; his ejaculations were g