it was
safely deposited in the Colonel's room without Amy's knowledge. The
Colonel was delighted.

"Bring it close up," he said, "but first take off that infernal card
that it belonged to 'Mrs. Amy Crompton Smith.' That's the way they'd
marked my trousers! Give me Mandy Ann and Judy. I haven't seen them in
more than twenty years,--yes, nearer thirty. Upon my soul they wear
well, especially the old lady. She was never very handsome, but Amy
liked her best," he said, laughing a little as Peter put Judy in his
lap.

He did not know that he had ever touched her before, and he held her
between his thumb and finger, with something which felt like a swelling
in his throat,--not for Judy, nor for Amy, but for poor Dory, thoughts
of whom were haunting him these days with a persistency he could not
shake off.

"What did you give?" he asked, and Peter replied. "Five dollars,--just
what it was marked."

"Five dollars! Heavens and earth!" and Judy fell to the floor, while the
Colonel grasped his knees with his hands and sat staring at Peter. "Five
dollars! Are you an idiot, and have none of them common sense?" he
asked, and Peter replied, "That was the price, and I didn't like to beat
them down."

Ruby Ann isn't easy to tackle, and Mrs. Biggs was there with her gab,
if she is my niece, and said I got it dirt cheap."

"Go to thunder with your Ruby Ann and Mrs. Biggs and dirt cheap!" the
Colonel roared. "Who said I wanted you to beat 'em down? Why, man, I
told you I gave thirty for the house and five for Mandy Ann, and here
they have sold the whole caboodle, Judy and all, for five dollars! Five
dollars! Do you hear? Five dollars, for what cost thirty-five! I
consider they've insulted Mandy Ann and Judy both. Five dollars! I'll
be--"

He didn't finish his sentence, for he heard Amy's voice in the hall. She
might be coming, and he said hastily to Peter, "Put them in the closet.
Don't let her see them, or there'll be the old Harry to pay."

Peter obeyed, but Amy did not come in, and after a moment the Colonel
continued, "We will keep them here a while. I dare say she'll never
think of them again. She doesn't think much. Do you believe she will
ever be any better?"

The Colonel's voice shook as he asked the question, and Peter's shook a
little as he replied, "Please God she may. A great shock of some kind
might do it."

"Yes, but where is the shock to come from, hedged round as she is from
every rough wind or care?" the Col