"And so I must say it all in as few words as possible," he
continued.

"What is it, sir?" again asked Mrs. Pepper, wonderingly. "Well, the
fact is, I've got to have somebody who will keep this house. Now
Marian, not a word!" as he saw symptoms of Mrs. Whitney's
joining in the conversation. "You've been good; just as good as can
be under the circumstances; but Mason will be home in the fall,
and then I suppose you'll have to go with him. "Now 1," said the
old gentleman, forgetting all about his head, and straightening
himself up suddenly in the chair, "am going to get things into
shape, so that the house will be kept for all of us; so that we can
come or go. And how can I do it better than to have the
Peppers--you, Mrs. Pepper, and all your children--come here and
live, and"-- "Oh, father!" cried Jasper, rushing up to him; and
flinging his arms around his neck, he gave him such a hug as he
hadn't received for many a day.

"Goodness, Jasper!" cried his father, feeling of his throat. "How
can you express your feelings so violently! And, besides, you
interrupt."

"Beg pardon, sir," said Jasper, swallowing his excitement, and
trying to control his eagerness.

"Do you say yes, Mrs. Pepper?" queried the old gentleman
impatiently. "I must get this thing fixed up to-day. I'm really too ill
to be worried ma'am."