"
Captain Bangs remained to take supper with his friend. The meal
over, they and the rest of the boarders were seated in the big
living-room--once Captain Abner's "best parlor"--when there came from
outside the rattle of wheels and the voice of Winnie S. shouting "Whoa!"
to General Jackson.
Thankful, who had been in the kitchen superintending Imogene, who was
learning rapidly, came hurrying to the front door. The group in the
parlor heard her utter an exclamation, an exclamation of surprise and
delight. There were other exclamations, also in a feminine voice,
and the sounds of affectionate greetings. Then Mrs. Barnes, her face
beaming, ushered into the living-room a young woman. And this young
woman was her cousin, Emily Howes.
Captain Obed rose to greet her.
"Well, I swan to man, Miss Howes!" he cried. "This IS a surprise! I
didn't know you was due for a v'yage in this latitude."
Thankful laughed. "Neither did I," she declared. "It's as big a surprise
to me as it is to you, Cap'n. She didn't write me a word."
Emily laughed.
"Of course I didn't, Auntie," she said. "I wanted to surprise you. But
you're glad to see me, aren't you?"
"GLAD! I don't believe I was ever so glad to see anybody in MY life."
"We're all glad to see you, Miss Howes," announced the captain. "Come
down to make us a little visit, hey?"
"Oh, more than a little one. You can't escape so easily. I am going to
stay all summer at least, perhaps longer. There, Aunt Thankful, what do
you think of that?"
CHAPTER VIII
What Thankful thought of it was evidenced by the manner in which she
received the news.
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