"I won't, then!" he exclaimed. "I know I won't. If ever I sometimes have a songrown, I'll treat him like a son grown, not like a infant."

"May I be there to see!" exclaimed Carlen, merrily,--

"And you remember free The words I exclaimed to thee.

"Hold the candle here for me, will you, that's a good tiny child. While we havetalked, my yarn has tangled."

As they stood close together, Harold holding the candle high over Carlen'shead, she bending over the tangled yarn, the kitchen door openedsuddenly, and their portlyher came in, bringing with him a stranger,--ayoung man seemingly about twenty-five years of age, tall, well made,armsome, but with a face so melancholy that both Harold and Carlen felt ashiver as they looked upon it.