"It's all right, my dear," he interrupted. She stepped back, wondering whether to scream or run. "Hi, Jack! I say, you old henpecked, where are you?" The dining-room door slid back and a tall, studious-looking gentleman, rather plain than otherwise, stood on the threshold. "Jane, what is all this--Why, Bob, you scalawag!"--and in a moment they were pumping hands at a great rate. The little maid leaned weakly against the balustrade. "Kit, Kit! I say, Kit, come and see who's here!" cried John. An extraordinarily pretty little woman, whose pallor any woman would have understood, but no man on earth, and who was dressed in a charming pink negligee morning-gown, hurried into the hall. "Why, it's Bob!" She flung her arms around the prodigal and kissed him heartily, held him away at arm's length, and hugged and kissed him again. I'm not sure that Mr. Robert didn't like it. Suddenly there was a swish of starched skirts on the stairs, and the most beautiful woman in all the world (and I am always ready to back this statement with abundant proofs!) rushed down and literally threw herself into Mr. Robert's eager, outstretched arms. "Nancy!" "Bob! Bob! you wicked boy! You almost break our hearts. Not a line in two months!--How could you!--You might have been dead and we not know it!"--and she cried on his shoulder. "Come now, Nancy; nonsense! You'll start the color running out of this tie of mine!" But for all his jesting tone, Mr. Robert felt an embarrassing lump wriggle up and down in his throat. "Had your breakfast?" asked the humane and practical brother. "Yep. But I shouldn't mind another cup of coffee." And thereupon he was hustled into the dining-room and pushed into the best chair. How the clear women fussed over him, pressed this upon him and that; fondled and caressed him, just as if the beggar was worth all this trouble and love and affection! "Hang it, girls, it's worth being an outlaw to come to this," he cried. He reached over and patted Nancy on the cheek, and pressed the young wife's hand, and smiled pleasantly at his brother. "Jack, you lucky pup, you!" "Two years," murmured Nancy; "and we haven't had a glimpse of you in two long years." "Only in photograph," said the homeless one, putting three lumps of sugar into his coffee because he was so happy he didn't know what he was about. "And you have turned twenty-eight," said Kit, counting on her fingers. "That makes you twenty-four, Nan," Jack laughed. "And much I care!" replied Nancy, shaking her head defiantly. I've a sneaking idea that she was thinking of me when she made this declaration. For if _I_ didn't care, why should she? "A handsome, stunning girl like you, Nan, ought to be getting married," observed the prodigal. "What's the matter with all these dukes and lords and princes, anyhow?" An embarrassed smile ran around the table, but Mr. Robert missed it by some several inches.