Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-19

which appeared a good deal too large for
him, very far back on his head. Miss Pane
la made a swoop at him from the top step
and flung one arm with the lace handker-
chief over his left shoulder, at the same
time hiding her face on the other.
"Our own, our long. lost brother" she
murmured. Twenty years !"
The shabby little nah submitted passively
to her embrace, though with look of some
slight surprise, and murmured, like an echo :
'Ah, twenty years -
| "When you have quite done, Pamela, my
DEAR" interposed Miss Penelope with digni-
| ty 81 also will embrace our brother. Still
the same impulsive being, you see, Peter !
just the same playful child you remember
twenty years ago"
"Ah, yes, said Peter, gazing earnestly at
Miss Pamela. playful child Twenty
years is a long time, though"
Here Miss Pamela gave spasmodic wrig-
| gle, expressive Of intense emotion, and sub
sided, with the lace handkerchief pressed to
her eyes, into one Of the hall chairs
Now, Peter said her sister, lit is my
turn. Embrace your Penelope" at the same
time making a sideways lunge at him with
her head, and leaving her cheek in conven-
| lent proximity to his lips. Peter embraced
her accordingly, though without any appear
ance Of extreme delight.
| Miss Penelope applied her handkerchief to
her eyes.
This is weakness" " she exclaimed Though
| to do her justice, there was no indication that
| it was anything of the Sort Peter, well
come TO England. Welcome to our modest
| little home, and come and have some tea
"And badly enough you must want it. poor
fellow, after that dreadful long journey, said
Miss Pamela, who had by this time recovered
from her emotion. And such frightfuly
| hot climate too"
you giddy, giddy child" said Miss Pene-
| lope, shaking her forefnger at her sister
you surely don't suppose Peter has come
straight away from India this evening That
would be rather too much Of good thing,
wouldn't it, Pcter?'
''Woll. hasn't he ?" replied Miss Pamela.
| "Pm sure | don't know. i don't profess to
know anything about geography out Of
school hours. Come, Penelope, let rs lead
| Peter in in triumph. You take one arm,
and I'll take the other, and well carry him
off between us Stop, first let me hang up
his hat Fancy, Penelope, real mans hat
hanging up in the hall of the Polypodium
| House :"
"Dye think it'll be safe there = said Peter
| hestatingly. "Because--it's rather a good
hat, and shouldn't like anything to happen
to it,"
There's caution for you - said Miss Pa
! mela airly. That's careful Peter all over.
He always was a careful boy. Never fear,
then, its hat shall be taken care Of, and next
time it comes Wen have glass case made on
purpose for it, that We will
"You giddy -giddy child !',ngain exclaimed
Miss Penelope, tapping her sister reproving
| ly with her eye. glass, "how can you 90 on
so Upon my word you are only fit for a
pinafore and pantalettes. What Peter will
| think of YOU ! really don't know
Peter will think that his little Pamela is
/ so delighted to see him that she isn't ac-
countable for anything and excuse all short
comings accordingly, won't you, Peter?'
80, yes, I'll excuse EN-, said Peter.
Dear Peter I knew you wQuld!" And
| Miss Pamela shot II flying kiss at his cheek,
but being short of stature, unfortunately
missed her aim, and alighted ON his ear,
which he forthwith began to rub vigorously,
Pamela, you are really too impulsive,
said Miss Penelope. You have hurt him,
am sure -
80, no." said Peter, lit amt that But it
| felt like an car wig"
"Ah, poor dear boy" said his younger sis
| ter, any one can see that you have not been
accustomed to the kiss of affection"
mo, I amt" said Peter. That's just
where it is, and it tickles."
BY this time the sisters had conveyed their
long lost brother into the parlor, where the
| tea-tab,e was laid out. Miss Penelope pre-
sided at the tea-tray, while Miss Pamela sat
beside their visitor on the sofa, and piled
| him with the various delicacies on the fes-
tive board, which he attacked with a ygor
which left nothing to be desired. On Miss
| Penelope expressing hope that his tea was
to his liking,
Its beautiful. he replied, with his mouth
| full of buttered toast I'VE don't get such
| TOO tbi. tb.r.. I foil vpu And as
for srimps, lor, if they was fatted calves,
they couldn't be more of curiosity
The two sisters had exchanged glances
| more than once, as their brother let slip
some grammatical solecism. Miss Penelope
| now remarked:
You haven't had many opportunities of
speaking English in India, daresay, Peter =
what, me Well, no, not to say many
| opportunities, said Peter,
"And that not in the best society, very
| likely = said Miss Pamela.
20. Yes, the societys all right, when you're
used to it. Some of ems little peculiar, of
course but they're all right, except when
| they get throwing things
The sisters exchanged glances again. Peter
had clearly not moved in the best society
do you know, Peter" said Miss Pamela
Rrchly, II always made up my mind you
would marry a Begun"
mot me-" said Peter. That d be what
| they call bigamy, wouldn't it? p
Again the sist,r looked at one another.
Had pun land such pun , actually pro-
| famed the classic groves of Polypodium
House : But no, Peter was evidently seri-
GUS Nay, more, he seemed really anxious
| for an answer.
Dear me :" said Miss Pamela. Perhaps
| didn't use the right expression. l certain
ly thought it was Begun. What do you call
the black ladies in India, Peter p
Peter looked perplexed.
"Aunt Sallies, amt it p he said.
Now, you naughty boy, you are poking
fun at me. You know / mean an Indian
word-Nabob, that's not it. Tifin no, that's
something to eat. 1t must be Begun. Or is
| it Begun No, Begun, think. However,
it doesn't matter. I'm very glad you're not
married, and that our brother has returned to
us a gay young bachelor. / shall expect you
| to beau us about everywhere sir, mind that.
Now We have got you We intend to make
good use Of you, can tell you"
Peter, still with his mouth full made some
unintelligible answer. Miss Pamela, struck
apparently by happy thought skipped
playfully to the mantelpiece, and took from
| it the miniature of the chubby-faced young
man.
"There, Peter" she said, 'can you tell me
who that isf"
Don't know him !" said Peter, after due
| examination.
you don't recognize it? Why, Peter,
that is your own likeness, at the age of twen-
| ty-two."
'Me That hufy-headed chap o, come
now, >" said Peter, with look of disgust.
1T is, indeed" said Miss Pamela. And
a very good likeness it was Indeed, it is
still, isn't it, Penelope? See, the very nose,
and the salf-same eyes"
Probably, my dear !" said Miss Penelope,
with her habtual air of gentle correction.
Foreign travel may alter people good deal,
but it generally leaves them in possession of
the same noses and eyes. But agree with
you, that Peters likeness to the portrait is
very surprising. l should have recognized
him anywhere"