So they presently arrived at the Hosmer cottage.  Thad did the knocking.  He had decided to go in at the slightest invitation, in hopes of meeting Brother Lu again, and ascertaining what the prospects were for his departing to the other world.

To the surprise of both boys, when they were admitted by Matilda they discovered the object of their thoughts seated in a chair, with a thick shawl across his shoulders.  He looked as though he might be a trifle ill, too.  At the sight of them one of his accustomed grins came over his face, now rough again with a three days’ growth of gray beard.

“Hello, boys!” the reformed tramp called out, as though really pleased to see them again; “you find me under the weather this time for keeps.  Had one of my little bad attacks, and just beginning to feel a shade better.  Perhaps I’ll go off in one of these spells some fine day, sooner or later.  Matilda she’s been a good nurse to me, and I’m beginning to believe I did the wisest thing ever when I decided to hunt my last remaining blood relative up, and stay with her till the end came.”

Matilda looked pained to hear him speak in that way, but Thad was not in the least impressed.  According to his mind the other had only caught a little summer cold, and which had caused him considerable distress, with its accompanying sneezing discomforts.  He did not believe it was anything serious.

Determined, however, to stay a short while and study the man, in hopes of discovering some loophole through which he might be reached and made to give up his soft berth in the Hosmer home, Thad took a chair, and settled himself for a visit.

Hugh asked the man a number of questions concerning his illness, and took note of the fact that every time Brother Lu had occasion to glance toward his sister a wonderfully tender gleam would come into his blue eyes.  Apparently he had learned what everybody in Scranton always knew, that Matilda Hosmer was the kindest and softest-hearted creature alive.  Hugh wondered whether this knowledge might not in time cause the man to feel ashamed of imposing upon her strength and generosity, so that of his own free will he would take his departure for other scenes.

“Matilda is going to have a birthday in a few days,” he confided to the boys, at a time his sister chanced to be in the kitchen, “and me’n Brother-in-law Andrew, we’ve made up our minds to surprise her with a little present.  ’Course it can’t be anything much, because we haven’t a superabundance of ready cash; but Matilda, she’s stood by her poor old wandering brother so handsomely I’d be glad to give her a whole hundred dollars, if only I possessed that sum.”

Thad looked surprised, indeed he may have begun to suspect that after all the grizzled old hobo might not be quite so heartless as appearances would indicate.  This unexampled spirit of self-sacrifice shown by Matilda was beginning to have its influence on his hard nature.  As for Hugh, he listened with considerable interest, listened and sat there, watching the play of emotions across the face of Brother Lu, and forming certain opinions of his own at the same time.