Jaquith recalled Mrs. Tree's words. Had this quaint little gentleman really been in love with his beautiful mother? Poor Mr. Homer! It was very funny, but it was pathetic, too. Poor Mr. Homer! The young man's thoughts ran on swiftly. The Peak in Darien! Well, that was all true. Only, how if--unconsciously he spoke aloud, his eyes on the picture--"How if a man were misled for a time by--I shall have to mix my metaphors, Mr. Homer--by a will-o'-the-wisp, and fell into the quagmire, and lost sight of his mountain for a time, only to find it again, more lovely than--would he have any right to--what was it you said, sir?--to try once more to scale those crystal heights?" "Undoubtedly he would!" said Mr. Homer Hollopeter. "Undoubtedly, if he were sure of himself, sure that no false light--I perceive the mixture of metaphors, but this cannot always be avoided--would again fall across his path." "He is sure of that!" said Will Jaquith, under his breath. He had risen, and the two men were standing side by side, both intent upon the picture. Twilight was falling, but a ray of the setting sun stole through the little window, and rested upon the Peak in Darien. "He is sure of that!" repeated William Jaquith. When he spoke again, his voice was husky, his speech rapid and broken. "Mr. Homer" (no one ever said "Mr. Hollopeter," nor would he have been pleased if any one had), "I have been here six months, have I not? six months to-morrow?" "Yes, William," said Mr. Homer, turning his mild eyes on his assistant. "Have I--have I given satisfaction, sir?" "Eminent satisfaction!" said Mr. Homer, cordially. "William, I have had no fault to find; none. Your punctuality, your exactness, your assiduity, leave nothing to be desired. This has been a great gratification to me--on many accounts." "Then, you--you think I have the right to call myself a man once more; that I have the right to take up a man's life, its joys, as well as its labors?" "I think so, most emphatically," cried the little gentleman, nodding his head. "I think you deserve the best that life has to give." "Then--then, Mr. Homer, may I have a day off to-morrow, please? I want"--he broke into a tremulous laugh, and laid his hand on the elder man's shoulder,--"I want to climb the Peak, Mr. Homer!" * * * * * So it came to pass one day, soon after this, that as Mrs. Tree was sitting by her fire, with the parrot dozing on his perch beside her, there came to the house two young people, who entered without knock or ring, and coming hand in hand to her side, bent down, not saying a word, and kissed her. "Highty tighty!" cried Mrs. Tree, her eyes twinkling very brightly under a tremendous frown. "What is the meaning of all this, I should like to know? How dare you kiss me, Willy Jaquith?" "Old friends to love!" said Jocko, opening one yellow eye, and ruffling his feathers knowingly.