Thankful was surprised.  “She did?” she repeated.  “That’s funny.  She didn’t say a word to me.”

“No, I told her not to.  You see, the—­the somethin’ I was expectin’ was for you, so I thought we’d make it a little surprise.  Emily—­Miss Howes, she sent it.”

“Emily—­sent somethin’ to me?”

“Yup.”

“For the land sakes!  Well,” after a moment, “did it come?  Where is it?”

“Oh, yes, it came.  It’s right there in the buggy.  Don’t you see it?”

Thankful looked at the buggy.  The only thing in it, so far as she could see, was the little boy on the seat.  The little boy grinned.

“Hello, Aunt Thankful,” he said.  “I’ve come to stay with you, I have.”

Thankful started, stared, and then made a rush for the buggy.

“Georgie Hobbs!” she cried.  “You blessed little scamp!  Come here to me this minute.  Well, well, well!”

Georgie came and was received with a bear hug and a shower of kisses.

“Well, well!” repeated Thankful.  “And to think I didn’t know you!  I’m ashamed of myself.  And you’re the surprise, I suppose.  You are one, sure and sartin.  How did you get here?”

“I came on the cars,” declared Georgie, proudly.  “Ma and Emmie put me on ’em and told me to sit right still until I got to Wellmouth Centre and then get off.  And I did, too; didn’t I, Mr.—­I mean Captain Bangs.”

“You bet you did!” agreed the delighted captain.  “That’s some relation you’ve got there, Mrs. Barnes.  He’s little but Oh my!  He and I have had a good talk on the way down.  We got along fust-rate; hey, commodore?  The commodore’s agreed to ship second-mate along with me next v’yage I make, if I ever make one.”

Thankful held her “relation”—­he was Emily’s half-brother and her own favorite next to Emily herself in that family—­at arm’s length.  “You blessed little—­little mite!” she exclaimed.  “So you come ’way down here all alone just to see your old auntie.  Did you ever in your life!  And I suppose you’re the ‘secret’ Emily said she had, the one that was to keep me from bein’ lonesome.”

Georgie nodded.  “Yes,” he said.  “Emmie, she’s wrote you all about me.  I’ve got the letter pinned inside of me here,” patting his small chest.  “And I’m goin’ to stay ever so long, I am.  I want to see the pig and the hens and the—­and the orphan, and everything.”

“So you shall,” declared Thankful.  “I’m glad enough to see you to turn the house inside out if you wanted to look at it.  And you knew all about this, I suppose?” turning to Captain Obed.

The captain laughed aloud.

“Sartin I did,” he said.  “Miss Howes and I have been writin’ each other like a couple of courtin’ young folks.  I knew the commodore was goin’ to set sail today and I was on hand up to the depot to man the yards.  Forgive me for hookin’ your horse and buggy, will you, Mrs. Thankful?”