"Aunt Julia," said I, "pray don't be startled--I have come home--"
At this, though I had spoken softly, she dropped the pen, rose and,
clasping hands to bosom, uttered a scream, though sweetly modulated
and extremely ladylike. Then we were in each other's arms and she was
weeping and laughing over me in a very ecstasy of welcome.
"Dear Peregrine--loved boy, at last! How brown you are! You're taller,
bigger--handsomer, I vow--and you have come back to me. O Peregrine!
You have come back to my loving care, dearest. Your wanderings are
over?"
"Yes, dear aunt," I answered, stifling a sigh, "my wanderings are
over."
"Oh, heaven bless you, dear boy! God be thanked--"
"And what of my good, generous uncles, dear Aunt?"
"I have banished the wretches--forbade them my presence--"
"Dear Aunt, pray why?"
"Because they are wretches."
"Then to-morrow we will write and bid them welcome."
"Never, Peregrine!"
"To-morrow, dear Aunt."
"Peregrine!" she exclaimed, starting and frowning a little, "I said,
'Never'!"
"And I said 'to-morrow', dear Aunt!"
"Boy!" she cried, lovely head proudly aloft.
"Aunt!" said I. "How very beautiful you are!" and drawing down that
lovely head, I kissed her; at this, she flushed, and drew away,
drooping her lashes like a girl.
"Why, Peregrine!" she murmured.
"They both love you so truly and faithfully, dear Aunt, and no wonder!
And they are such--men! So to-morrow we will write to them?"
"Very well, dear Peregrine!" said my proud aunt, softly and not in the
least proudly.
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