"Yes," said Budge; "I know all about it. Only Uncle Harry don't say it right. What he calls respect _I_ calls _love_." "Miss Mayton," I said hastily, earnestly, "Budge is a marplot, but he is a very truthful interpreter, for all that. Whatever my fate may be, do not----" "I want to talk some," observed Budge. "You talk all the whole time. I--when I loves anybody I kisses them." Miss Mayton gave a little start, and my thoughts followed each other with unimagined rapidity. She was not angry, evidently. Could it be that----? I bent over her, and acted on Budge's suggestion. She raised her head slightly, and I saw that Alice Mayton had surrendered at discretion. Taking her hand, I offered to the Lord more fervent thanks than He had ever heard from me in church. Then Budge said, "I wants to kiss you, too." And I saw my glorious Alice snatch the little scamp into her arms and treat him with more affection than I had ever imagined was in her nature. Suddenly two or three ladies came upon the piazza. "Come, boys!" said I. "Then I'll call with the carriage to-morrow at three, Miss Mayton. Good-evening." That night I wrote to my sister to inform her that the scales had fallen from my eyes--I saw clearly that my nephews were angels. And I begged to refer her to Alice Mayton for collateral evidence. _IV.--The Fruit of My Visit_ A few days later I had a letter from my sister to say she had been recalling a fortnight's experience they once had of courtship in a boarding-house, so had determined to cut short her visit and hurry home. Friday morning they intended to arrive--blessings on their thoughtful hearts! And this was Friday. I hurried into the boys' room and shouted, "Toddie! Budge! Who do you think is coming to see you this morning?" "Who?" asked Budge. "Organ-grinder?" queried Toddie. "No; your papa and mamma." Budge looked like an angel at once, but Toddie murmured mournfully, "I fought it wash an organ-grinder." "Oh, Uncle Harry," said Budge, in a perfect delirium of delight, "I believe if my papa and mamma had stayed away any longer I believe I would _die_. I've been so lonesome for them that I haven't known what to do. I've cried whole pillowsful about it, right here in the dark." "Why, my poor old fellow," said I, picking him up and kissing him. "Why didn't you come and tell Uncle Harry, and let him try to comfort you?" "I couldn't," said Budge. "When I gets lonesome, it feels as if my mouth was all tied up, and a big, great stone was right in here." And Budge put his hand on his chest. "If a big tone wash inshide of me," said Toddie, "I'd take it out and frow it at the shickens." "Toddie," I said, "aren't you glad papa and mamma are coming?" "Yesh," said Toddie. "Mamma always bwings me candy fen she goes anyfere." During the hour which passed before it was time to start for the depot, my sole attention was devoted to keeping the children from soiling their clothes, but my success was so little, I lost my temper utterly.