“Why, Andy!  I thought you had shut up the shop for good and all.”

“I thought so last night, but I’ve changed my mind,” was the low-spoken but decided answer.

“Changed your mind!  Why?”

“I don’t know what you may think about it, Sally; but my mind’s made up.”  And Andy squared round, and looked steadily into his wife’s face.  “There’s just one thing we’ve got to do; and it’s no use trying to run away from it.  That letter didn’t come for nothing.  The fact is, Sally, them children mustn’t be separated.  I’ve been thinking about it all night, and it hurts me dreadfully.”

“How can we help it?  Mary’s dead, and her husband’s relations have divided the children round.  I’ve no doubt they will be well cared for,” said Mrs. Lovell.

She had been thinking as well as her husband, but not to so clear a result.  To bring three little children into her quiet home, and accept years of care, of work, of anxiety, and responsibility, was not a thing to be done on light consideration.  She had turned from the thought as soon as presented, and pushed it away from every avenue through which it sought to find entrance.  So she had passed the wakeful night, trying to convince herself that her dead sister’s children would be happy and well cared for.

“If they are here, Sally, we can be certain that they are well cared for,” replied Andy.

“O, dear!  I can never undertake the management of three children!” said Mrs. Lovell, her countenance expressing the painful reluctance she felt.

Andy turned partly away from his wife, and bent over the cutting-board.  She saw, as he did so, an expression of countenance that rebuked her.

“A matter like this should be well considered,” remarked Mrs. Lovell.

“That’s true,” answered her husband.  “So take your time.  They’re your flesh and blood, you know, and if they come here, you’ll have the largest share of trouble with them.”

Mrs. Lovell went back into the house to think alone, while Andy commenced cutting out work, his hands moving with the springs of a readier will than had acted through them for a long time.

It took Mrs. Lovell three or four days to make up her mind to send for the children, but the right decision came at last.  All this while Andy was busy in his shop—­cheerfully at work, and treating the customers, who, hearing that he had changed his mind, were pressing in upon him with their orders, much after the pleasant fashion in which he had treated them in years gone by.  He knew that his wife would send for the children; and after their arrival, he knew that he would have increased expenses.  So, there had come a spur to action, quickening the blood in his veins; and he was at work once more, with heart and purpose, a happier man, really, than he had been for years.