'I'm going to sleep in the old house every night,' she said, until Sheridan takes possession; and Turk is coming here to sleep, and to mind the shop, if I want to get away a bit earlier. I wish Turk would marry. I should like to take care of his children. He's a real good sterling fellow is Turk, and deserves a happy home. Your mother was here this afternoon, Chris. She told me all that you said to her.' 'You guess, I daresay, what my reason is in wishing her to see Jessie.' Josey West laughed. 'I guess, you daresay! Well, yes, I can guess, although I am not in love.' I shook my head. 'I don't think you have guessed, Josey. It is not for myself that I want mother and Jessie to come together again.' 'What other reason can you have, my sweet sensitive child?' 'Oh, I don't mind your bantering me, Josey. Do you remember sending me a letter from uncle Bryan addressed to mother, when we were away at Hertford?' 'Yes; and I wondered at the time what such a thick letter could be all about.' 'It contained a great secret, Josey, and a very wonderful story concerning Jessie.' 'Indeed!' said Josey, with a cautious look at me. 'I think there is no harm in telling you, especially as you'll not speak of it.' 'Oh, you may trust me, Master Chris.' 'It is a story concerning Jessie and her father.' 'Indeed! So Jessie has a father.' 'You would never guess who her father is, Josey.' 'Then I won't break my head over it; but I shall know if you tell me.' Uncle Bryan is her father; so that you see Jessie and I are cousins.' Josey did not express the surprise I expected she would; an expression of thoughtfulness was in her face. 'Go on, Chris; I am waiting to hear more.' 'Well, neither Jessie nor uncle Bryan knew of the relationship existing between them until the day that Jessie went away from this house, and then it came upon them both like a thunderbolt. It was because Jessie discovered that uncle Bryan was her father that she ran away from him.' 'That sounds very dreadful, Chris.' 'There is a dreadful story attached to it--which I mustn't tell you nor anybody, Josey. They are both very much to be pitied; but I am not sure that I don't pity uncle Bryan more than I do Jessie. However, there it is; they are father and daughter, and they are separated. Never mind what has passed, I ask you is this right--is it natural? Uncle Bryan is an old man, and cannot have many years to live. That he repents many things he has been unconsciously guilty of in the past, I am certain.' 'That's a curious phrase,' interrupted Josey, with her thoughtful manner still upon her. 'Unconsciously guilty.'