“Nonsense, Fan,” said Julia.  “Why don’t you confess that you wish to go because that handsome Cameron is going?  Didn’t I see how much he looked at you, and how you blushed, too?  But no matter.  I would get him, if I were you!”

Julia was getting very generous, now that she thought herself sure of Dr. Lacey.  Further remark from her, however, was prevented by the ringing of the breakfast bell.

“What shall I tell your parents?” said Mr. Middleton to his nieces, as he stood in the hall, waiting for the driver to open the carriage door and let down the steps.

Julia made no reply, but Fanny said, “Give them my love, and tell them I am getting better every day, and shall want to come home soon,” and then she added, in a lower tone, “You will not laugh at father much, will you, or make fun of him either, if he acts oddly?”

“God bless you, sweet girl,” said Mr. Middleton, stooping to kiss the innocent face which looked up into his with so much earnestness.  “For your sake, if for no other, your father shall not be laughed at.”

As the carriage drove off, Julia turned to Fanny and said, “Won’t they have fun, though, with the old man?  I can fancy it all.  Father’s beard will probably be long enough to do up in papers, and it will be a miracle if he does not have on those horrid old bagging pants of his.”

Fanny was only too fearful it would all be as Julia predicted, but she made no answer, and soon returned to her room.

We will now follow the carriage, which, with its load of gentlemen, was proceeding rapidly toward the house of our friend Uncle Joshua.  Mr. William Middleton, or Mr. Stafford, as we will call him for a time, seemed to grow excited as he approached nearer to a brother whose face he had not looked upon for more than twenty long years.

“I say, boys,” said he, speaking to his companions, “you must help me, and when I begin to ask Joshua concerning his parents and brothers, you, too, must talk, or he will suspect I have some design in questioning him.”

The gentlemen all promised to do their best, except Frank, who could promise nothing, because he knew nothing concerning the man they were going to visit.  His curiosity, however, was aroused, and forgetting the presence of Mr. William Middleton, “Do they keep the old fellow caged?  And must we pay anything for seeing him?”

These questions were greeted by a burst of laughter, and Raymond said, “No—­admittance is free, but you’ll be more amused to see him and hear him talk than you would in visiting Barnum’s Museum!”

By this time the carriage had entered the woods, and they came in sight of the house.  Mr. Stafford leaned from the window, and said, “Is it possible that my brother, with all his wealth, lives in such a heathen place as this?”

“When you see him,” said Raymond, “you’ll think the nest just suited the bird.”