“I’m not hungry—­I can’t eat,” he replied; “my appetite has all gone.”  And stealing away from the room, he went up into his chamber, threw himself on the bed, and wept bitterly.

Mrs. Bird was greatly distressed at the idea of losing her little favourite.  He had been so much with her that she had become strongly attached to him, and therefore looked forward to his departure with unfeigned regret.  But Charlie could not be persuaded to stay; and reluctantly Mrs. Bird made arrangements for his journey home.  Even the servants looked a little sorry when they heard of his intended departure; and Reuben the coachman actually presented him with a jack-knife as a token of his regard.

Mrs. Bird accompanied him to the steamer, and placed him under the special care of the captain; so that he was most comfortably provided for until his arrival in New York, where he took the cars direct for home.

Not having written to inform them on what day he might be expected, he anticipated giving them a joyful surprise, and, with this end in view, hastened in the direction of Mr. Walters’s.  As he passed along, his eye was attracted by a figure before him which he thought he recognized, and on closer inspection it proved to be his sister Caddy.

Full of boyish fun, he crept up behind her, and clasped his hands over her eyes, exclaiming, in an assumed voice, “Now, who am I?”

“Go away, you impudent, nasty thing!” cried Caddy, plunging violently.  Charlie loosed his hold; she turned, and beheld her brother.

“Oh!  Charlie, Charlie! is it you?  Why, bless you, you naughty fellow, how you frightened me!” said she, throwing her arms round his neck, and kissing him again and again.  “When did you come?  Oh, how delighted mother and Ess will be!” “I only arrived about half an hour ago.  How are mother and father and Esther?”

“Mother and Ess are well, and father better.  But I’m so glad to see you,” she cried, with a fresh burst of tears and additional embraces.

“Why, Cad,” said he, endeavouring to suppress some watery sensations of his own, “I’m afraid you’re not a bit pleased at my return—­you’re actually crying about it.”

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you that I can’t help it,” she replied, as she fell to crying and kissing him more furiously than before.

Charlie became much confused at these repeated demonstrations of joyful affection in the crowded street, and, gently disengaging her, remarked, “See, Caddy, everybody is looking at us; let us walk on.”

“I had almost forgot I was sent on an errand—­however, it’s not of much consequence—­I’ll go home again with you;” and taking his hand, they trudged on together.

“How did you say father was?” he asked again.