"I don't know, Harry; things are better as they are at present. My dear sister's trial has been blessed to her, I can see; she is being brought out by it decidedly on to the Lord's side." "You're right, Master Amos, you're right; and I'm nothing but a stupid stumbling old donkey.--Now, please, sir, what's this here important subject you wants to talk to me about?" "Just this, Harry. You know that I want to get back my dear mother again among us, and I believe it can be done; but it will want a deal of wisdom and what people call `tact' to bring it about. Now, I'm not going to speak to my father on the subject, because I think his feelings would so stir and excite him if I did, he would be so eager and anxious--it's part of his nature, you know, and he cannot help it--that he might spoil all." "Just so, Master Amos; he'd just be going slap-bang about it, I daresay, and he'd drive the poor lady clean out of as many of her seven senses as she'd got still left, poor thing." "Something of that kind," said Amos, smiling. "Well, you see, Harry, if I am to undertake the matter I must do it my own way; and it will require a great deal of care, and not a word must come out about it." "Ah, I see, Master Amos," said the old man, "you want me to be `mum.' Now, you look here, sir--try now if you can get a word out of me." So saying, Harry closed his lips tight together, stuck his hands in his trousers' pockets, and walked about the pantry with his head in the air. "I am quite satisfied," said Amos, laughing. "You may well be so, Master Amos," said the other. "_Me_ speak about such a thing to them maids in the kitchen, or the coachman, or stable- boy, or any one else in the universal world! Let the whole on 'em put together try it on, that's all." "Thank you, Harry," said Amos; "no one as yet knows about it but my aunt and yourself. But I shall have to take my brother and sister into my confidence, as I shall want their help in carrying out my plan." "All right, sir, all right; and, if any one mentions the poor lady before me, you may depend upon it I shall look like a deaf and dumb statty cut out of stone."