She looked eagerly at the boy.  Her face was not so feverish as before; indeed, he could see without being a physician that the patient was much better.

“And this is Hugh?” she said, in a voice that trembled.  “Yes, I seem to remember your face, and how you listened to me trying to tell you how much I wanted to get to Scranton before I fell sick, for I could feel it coming on.  And your mother tells me you carried us both home in your sleigh.  It was a generous heart that could take an utter stranger in, as you have done, and care for her as if she were your own flesh and blood.  Please let me thank you, Hugh, from the bottom of my heart.”

Hugh took the hand she extended; but he was careful not to give it one of his customary vigorous squeezes; she looked so wan and frail that he knew he must hold himself in check.

“Oh! it was a mighty little thing for anyone to do, Mrs. Walters,” he said, in some confusion, but speaking the name with a purpose in view.

“How did you know that was my name, Hugh?” she asked immediately.

“You mentioned it, my dear, in your delirium,” explained Mrs. Morgan; “and then, besides, Joey told us that much.”

“And did I tell you anything more in my ravings?” she asked, looking worried.

“Only something about a certain grandfather whom you seemed to think might not receive you as you ardently hoped when you started forth on this long journey,” the older lady told her.  “But then you did not know what was in store for you.  Sometimes great blessings, as well as dire calamities, spring upon us without the least warning.  Hugh, I shall leave the telling to you from this point on.”

The young mother looked from one face to the other.

“Oh! what is it?” she almost gasped.  “You are keeping something from me I ought to know.  Please tell me, Hugh, I beg of you.  If it is good news I shall be so very grateful, for little Joey’s sake mostly.  Everything I do, everything I think of, is in connection with my darling child.”

“Then I hope you will forgive me if I’m rushing things too fast!” exclaimed the eager boy, unable to restrain his news longer; “but little Joey spent two hours last evening asleep in the loving arms of his great grandmother; while Deacon Winslow again and again embraced both, and gave thanks for the great blessing that had come to his fireside!”

How her eyes sparkled when she heard what he said.  If Doctor Cadmus had been in the room just then he might have cautioned them against too much excitement, lest the fever return; but surely such glorious news could not do harm, with her heart singing songs of thanksgiving.

“Oh! tell me all about this wonderful thing!” she cried; “how could you guess my secret, if I did not betray it in my delirium?  Now that you have said this much I must know all about it.  Please go on, Hugh!”