CHAPTER XXII. SHUTTING THE STABLE DOOR.
Presumptuous maid, with looks intent,
Again she gazed, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
Grey.
"Hurrah! It's Johnny!"
"Georgie. Recollect yourself."
"But, mamma, it was Johnny."
"Johnny does not come till evening. Sit still, children, or I shall
have to send you to dine in the nursery."
"Somebody did pass the window, mamma, but I thought it was Rob," said
Jessie, now grown into a very fine-looking, tall, handsome maiden,
with a grandly-formed head and shoulders, and pleasant soft brown
eyes.
"It was Johnny," reiterated little George; and at that moment the
dining-room door opened, and the decorum of the luncheon dinner
entirely giving way, the three little ones all precipitated
themselves towards the entering figure, while Jessie and her mother
rose at their two ends of the table, and the Colonel, no luncheon
eater, came in from the study.
"What, Johnny, already!"
"The tidal train was earlier than I expected, so I have another half-
day. "Well! are you all well?"
"Quite well. Why—-how you are grown! I thought it was Rob when you
passed my window," said his father.
"So did I at first," added Jessie, "but Rob is much broader.
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