"I didn't mean to give you a warm welcome," said Brandon, ungraciously. "I beg your pardon; I made a mistake." "I suppose you came home without a cent." "You're mistaken. I've got over a dollar in my pocket." "What's a dollar?" sneered Brandon. "It isn't much, to be sure." "You won't hear very good news at your uncle's." "Why? Is he sick—or my aunt?" asked Dean uneasily. "No, but he can't pay the mortgage, and my father's going to take possession of the place." "Oh, is that all?" said Dean, relieved. "I should think it was enough." "Oh, perhaps your father will think better of it, as I am at home now and can help Uncle Adin pay it off." "What can you do?" asked Brandon, mockingly. "That's the great question. However, I'm in a hurry to get home, and must leave you. You are kind to be so much interested in me, Brandon." "I'm not interested in you at all," returned Brandon, tartly. Dean laughed and passed on. "That boy's as impudent as ever," soliloquized Brandon. "He'll feel differently on Monday." In the joy of seeing Dean again his uncle and aunt lost sight for a time of their troubles, but after a while Adin Dunham said gravely, "It's well you came home as you did, Dean, for the old home is about to pass from me." "How is that, Uncle Adin?" "Squire Bates is going to foreclose the mortgage. He offers to buy the place and give me eight hundred dollars over and above what I owe him." "Of course you declined?" "It will do no good. I must yield to necessity." "Squire Bates shall never have the place," said Dean, resolutely. "Who will prevent it?" "I will." "But, Dean, what power have you? The squire is firmly resolved." "So am I." "But----" "Uncle Adin, ask me no questions, but rest easy in the thought that you won't lose your home. Leave the matter in my hands. That is all you need to do." "Sarah, what does the boy mean?" "He means something, Adin. We may as well leave it in his hands as he asks." "Very well, I don't know as he can do any harm—or good." "That remains to be seen, uncle." Dean went to church on Sunday, and received a warm welcome from nearly all the congregation, for he was popular with those of all ages. He wore a smiling, untroubled look which puzzled Squire Bates and Brandon. "Does he know that I am going to foreclose the mortgage?" asked the squire of Brandon. "Yes, for I told him." "It seems strange that he should be so cheerful." "He won't be—to-morrow." "No, I apprehend not." When Squire Bates called at the carpenter's modest home Dean opened the door, and invited him into the sitting-room, where the two found themselves alone. "I want to see your uncle," said the squire. "If it's about the mortgage, I will attend to that matter." "You—a boy?" "Yes, I feel competent to settle the matter." "There is only one way of settling it, by paying the money." "I propose to pay it as soon as----" "Well, as soon as what?"