d be to his father all the more
delightful from its taking him by surprise. Secrecy, then, was an
essential. No one must betray his purpose to his father. Therefore,
when the family had all settled down peacefully, with the young widow
sweetly and lovingly filling her place as a daughter and mother, Amos,
one evening in the early part of the summer which followed his brother-
in-law's death, betook himself to the butler's pantry.

"Harry," he said, having seated himself on the closed lid of the plate
chest, "I want just a word with you on a subject of great importance."

"As many words as you like, my dear young master," said the old man;
"it's always a privilege whenever I gets a visit from you, or dear Miss
Julia as was, bless her. What a pity she ever changed Miss into Mrs;
but perhaps some good man 'll get her to change it into a better Mrs
some day, and wipe the taste of that horrid cruel man's name out of all
our mouths."

"I don't know, Harry; things are better as they are at present. My dear
sister's trial has been blessed to her, I can see; she is being brought
out by it decidedly on to the Lord's side."

"You're right, Master Amos, you're right; and I'm nothing but a stupid
stumbling old donkey.--Now, please, sir, what's this here important
subject you wants to talk to me about?"

"Just this, Harry. You know that I want to get back my dear mother
again among us, and I believe it can be done; but it will want a deal of
wisdom and what people call `tact' to bring it about. Now, I'm not
going to speak to my father on the subject, because I think his feelings
would so stir and excite him if I did, he would be so eager and
anxious--it's part of his nature, you know, and he cannot help it--that
he might spoil all."

"Just so, Master Amos; he'd just be going slap-bang about it, I daresay,
and he'd drive the poor lady clean out of as many of her seven senses as
she'd got still left, poor thing."

"Something of that kind," said Amos, smiling. "Well, you see, Harry, if
I am to undertake the matter I must do it my own way; and it will
require a great deal of care, and not a word must come out about it."

"Ah, I see, Master Amos," said the old man, "you want me to be `mum.'
Now, you look here, sir--try now if you can get a word out of me." So
saying, Harry closed his lips tight together, stuck his hands in his
trousers' pockets, and walked about the pantry with his head in the air.

"I am quite satisfie