With a part of the first money Billy had paid him, or rather had told him to draw in Tacoma, Harold had bought himself the clothes which he needed sadly; and though it was only a business suit, and had travelled thousands of miles, it fitted him well, and it was not at all a shabby Harold sitting at Arthur’s table, but a young man of whom anyone might have been proud.  And Jerrie was proud of him and of her father, too, as they talked together; and Harold showed no sign of any inequality, even if he felt it, which he did not.

’A fine young man, with the best of manners, and carries himself as he were the lord high chancellor,’ Arthur said, when, after dinner, Harold left there to pay his respects to the other inmates of the family, whom he found just leaving the dining-room.

Dolly bowed to him coldly at first, and was about to pass on, when, with a burst of tears, she offered him her hand, and sobbed: 

’Oh, Harold, why didn’t you come before?  Maude wanted to see you so badly.’

This was a great deal for Dolly, and Tom stared at her in amazement, while Harold explained that he had come as soon as he possibly could, and tried to say something of Maude, but could not, for the tears which choked him.  Frank was unfeignedly glad to see him, and told him so.

’Our dear little girl was fond of you, Hal.  I am sure she was, and I shall always like you for that.  Heaven bless you, my boy,’ he said, as he wrung Harold’s hand and then hurried away after his wife, leaving Harold alone with Tom, who, awfully afraid he should break down, said, indifferently: 

’Glad to see you, Hal.  Wish you had come before Maude died.  She was in a tearin’ way to see you.  Have a cigar?  Got a prime lot in my room.  Will you go there?

Harold was in no mood for cigars, and, declining Tom’s offer, sauntered awhile around the grounds, where he found himself constantly expecting to find the dead girl sitting under a tree wailing for him with the light whose meaning he now knew kindling in her beautiful eyes as she bade him welcome and told him how glad she was to see him.  He was glad now that he had not written and told her of her mistake, and he felt in his heart a greater tenderness for the Maude dead than he ever could have felt for the Maude living.

It was beginning to grow dark when he returned to the house where he found Jerrie in the hall ready to go home.  Arthur was at her side, with his arm thrown lovingly around her, and as he passed her over to Harold, he said: 

’Make the most of her to-night, my boy, for to-morrow she comes home to stay.  Heaven bless you, my daughter!’

His words sent a thrill through both Harold and Jerrie, who walked on in silence until they reached the four pines, where Jerrie halted suddenly and said: 

’Let us sit down, Harold.  I have a message from Maude, which I promised to deliver the first time we were alone together after you came home.’