“One of these other days I camed here with Hollis.”

“Who’s Hollis?”

“He’s my own brother.  Got a new cap.  Had his hair cut.”

“Who did you come to New York to see?” “My auntie.”

“Her auntie!  A great deal of satisfaction we are likely to get out of this child,” said Mr. Brooks, laughing.  He had not laughed before for a week.

“What’s your auntie’s name?”

“Aunt Madge.”

“Is she married?”

“O, yes; and so’s Uncle ’Gustus.  Married together, and live together, just the same.”

“Uncle ’Gustus who?  Now we’ll come at it!”

“Alling,” replied Fly, her quick eyes roving about the room, for she was tired of these questions.

“Allen, Augustus Allen!” said Mr. Brooks, in surprise; “I wonder if there can be two of them.  Tell me, child, how does he look?”

“Don’t look like you,” replied Fly, after a keen survey of Mr. Brooks.  “Your face is pulled away down long, like that;” (stretching her hand out straight) “Uncle ’Gustus’s face is squeezed up short” (doubling her hand into a ball)

“I’ll warrant it is the colonel himself,” said Mrs. Brooks, smiling at the description.

“Yes, that’s the name of him; the ‘kernil’s’ the name of him.”

“Is it possible!” said Mr. Brooks, looking very much pleased.

“Uncle ’Gustus has curly hair on his cheeks, on his mouf, all round. Not little prickles, sticking out like needles.”

“O, you girl!” said Bennie, frowning at Fly.  “You mustn’t laugh at my pa’s beard.  There’s a man comes in, sometimes, and shaves him nice; but now the man’s gone to Newark.”

“Is it possible,” repeated Mrs. Brooks, taking the child’s hand, “that this is Colonel Allen’s little niece, and my Maria found her!”

“Your Maria didn’t find me,” said Fly, decidedly; “I founded Maria.”

“So she did, pa.  The first thing I knew, I heard somebody calling, Doggie, doggie,’ in such a sweet voice; and then I looked—­no, of course I couldn’t look.”

Here the discouraged look came over Maria’s mouth, and she said no more.

“There, there, cheer up, daughter,” said Mr. Brooks, with tears in his eyes; “I was only going on to say, it is passing strange that any of our family should run afoul of one of the colonel’s folks.”

“It’s the Lord’s doings; I haven’t the slightest doubt of it,” said Mrs. Brooks, earnestly.  “You know what I’ve been saying to you, pa.”

“There, there, ma’am, don’t,” said Mr. Brooks; “don’t go to raising false hopes.  You know I’m too proud to beg of anybody’s folks.”

“Why, pa, I shouldn’t call it begging just to tell Colonel Allen how you are situated!  Do you suppose, if he knew the facts of the case, he’d be willing to let you suffer?  Such a faithful man as you used to be to work.”

“No, I think it’s likely he wouldn’t.  He’s got more heart than some rich folks; but I hain’t no sort of claim on the colonel, if I did help build his house.  And then, ma’am, you know I’ve been kind o’ hopin’—­”