"Why, how's this? hae we all been sleepin' a week or ten days?" exclaimed
Mr. Lilburn. "The lad was to hae been absent that length o' time, and I
thought it was but yesterday he went; yet here he is!"
"This is an unexpected pleasure, my dear boy," was his mother's greeting.
The others said "Good-morning," and all smilingly awaited an explanation.
"Good-morning to you all," returned Edward, taking his seat. "Of course I
have not had time to attend to the business matter that took me away; but
the fact is, I found I could not do without my wife, so came back after
her."
"Where is she now?" asked his mother.
"I left her still in bed and asleep. I came home by the stage, found her
awake--indeed, I think she said she had not slept at all--and kept her
awake for some time talking----"
"So much to say after so lengthened a separation?" laughingly interrupted
his grandfather.
"Yes, sir, a good deal," Edward answered, coloring slightly. "So she has
to make it up now, and I would not wake her."
"Quite right," said his mother. "Her breakfast shall be sent up whenever
she is ready for it."
"I'm very glad you've come, Ned," remarked Rosie, "for Zoe nearly cried
her eyes out yesterday, grieving after you.
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