Quincy soon returned with Uncle Ike in his arms and placed him in a
big arm-chair at the head of the table.
Alice looked up and smiled at her husband.
"Now it is much more like old times," she said, softly.
Maude, who had been an interested listener and spectator, finally
exclaimed, "I'm not surprised that you stayed down here four months,
Quincy, but we used to wonder, until we saw Alice, what the great
attraction was."
Maude's explosive remark caused a general laugh in which Uncle Ike
joined. Alice, feeling that all eyes were fixed upon her, blushed
prettily, "As my husband's residence here brought good to others as
well as to myself, I am glad that a poor, blind girl, such as I was,
proved an attraction strong enough to keep him here."
She stopped, somewhat abashed at making so long a speech, which Maude
might think indicated that she was offended at her sister-in-law's
reference to herself.
"Bravo, Alice," cried Uncle Ike, "so say we all of us."
After supper all adjourned to the parlour. Quincy offered to carry
Uncle Ike.
"No, young man. I'm all right on an even floor. It's these up and
down stairs that tire my loose joints"--and he made his way, without
assistance, to an easy chair in a farther corner. Quincy looked about
the room. Five years had made little change. The old square piano was
in its accustomed place, as well as the music stand.
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