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barely perceptible interval； she looked； then he heard her catch
her breath quickly and saw her put one hand upon the door jamb as
if for support。 The next； and she was running down the steps； her
hands outstretched and the light of welcome in her eyes。
〃Why； Albert Speranza！〃 she cried。 〃Why； ALBERT！〃
He seized her hands。 〃Helen！〃 he cried； and added involuntarily；
〃My； but it's good to see you again！〃
She laughed and so did he。 All his embarrassment was gone。 They
were like two children； like the boy and girl who had known each
other in the old days。
〃And when did you get here？〃 she asked。 〃And what do you mean by
surprising us like this？ I saw your grandfather yesterday morning
and he didn't say a word about your coming。〃
〃He didn't know I was coming。 I didn't know it myself until the
day before。 And when did you come？ Your father didn't tell me you
were here。 I didn't know until I heard him call your name。〃
He was calling it again。 Calling it and demanding attention for
his precious codfish。
〃Yes； Father； yes； in a minute； 〃 she said。 Then to Albert； 〃Come
in。 Oh； of course you'll come in。〃
〃Why； yes； if I won't be interfering with the housekeeping。〃
〃You won't。 Yes； Father； yes； I'm coming。 Mercy； where did you
get such a wonderful fish？ Come in； Albert。 As soon as I get
Father's treasure safe in the hands of Maria I'll be back。 Father
will keep you company。 No； pardon me； I am afraid he won't； he's
gone to the kitchen already。 And I shall have to go； too； for just
a minute。 I'll hurry。〃
She hastened to the kitchen； whither Mr。 Kendall； tugging the fish
basket； had preceded her。 Albert entered the little sitting…room
and sat down in a chair by the window。 The room looked just as it
used to look； just as neat； just as homelike； just as well kept。
And when she came back and they began to talk； it seemed to him
that she； too； was just as she used to be。 She was a trifle less
girlish； more womanly perhaps； but she was just as good to look at；
just as bright and cheerful and in her conversation she had the
same quietly certain way of dealing directly with the common…sense
realities and not the fuss and feathers。 It seemed to him that she
had not changed at all； that she herself was one of the realities；
the wholesome home realities； like Captain Zelotes and Olive and
the old house they lived in。 He told her so。 She laughed。
〃You make me feel as ancient as the pyramids；〃 she said。
He shook his head。 〃I am the ancient；〃 he declared。 〃This war
hasn't changed you a particle； Helen； but it has handed me an awful
jolt。 At times I feel as if I must have sailed with Noah。 And as
if I had wasted most of the time since。〃
She smiled。 〃Just what do you mean by that？〃 she asked。
〃I meanwell； I don't know exactly what I do mean； I guess。 I
seem to have an unsettled feeling。 I'm not satisfied with myself。
And as I remember myself；〃 he added； with a shrug； 〃that condition
of mind was not usual with me。〃
She regarded him for a moment without speaking； with the appraising
look in her eyes which he remembered so well； which had always
reminded him of the look in his grandfather's eyes； and which when
a boy he resented so strongly。
〃Yes；〃 she said slowly； 〃I think you have changed。 Not because
you say you feel so much older or because you are uneasy and
dissatisfied。 So many of the men I talked with at the camp
hospital； the men who had been over there and had been wounded； as
you were； said they felt the same way。 That doesn't mean anything；
I think； except that it is dreadfully hard to get readjusted again
and settle down to everyday things。 But it seems to me that you
have changed in other ways。 You are a little thinner； but broader；
too； aren't you？ And you do look older； especially about the eyes。
And； of coursewell； of course I think I do miss a little of the
Albert Speranza I used to know； the young chap with the chip on his
shoulder for all creation to knock off。〃
〃Young jackass！〃
〃Oh； no indeed。 He had his good points。 But there！ we're wasting
time and we have so much to talk about。 Youwhy； what am I
thinking of！ I have neglected the most important thing in the
world。 And you have just returned from New York； too。 Tell me；
how is Madeline Fosdick？〃
〃She is well。 But tell me about yourself。 You have been in all
sorts of war work； haven't you。 Tell me about it。〃
〃Oh； my work didn't amount to much。 At first I 'Red Crossed' in
Boston； then I went to Devens and spent a long time in the camp
hospital there。〃
〃Pretty trying； wasn't it？〃
〃Whyyes； some of it was。 When the 'flu' epidemic was raging and
the poor fellows were having such a dreadful time it was bad
enough。 After that I was sent to Eastview。 In the hospital there
I met the boys who had been wounded on the other side and who
talked about old age and dissatisfaction and uneasiness； just as
you do。 But MY work doesn't count。 You are the person to be
talked about。 Since I have seen you you have become a famous poet
and a hero and〃
〃Don't！〃
She had been smiling； now she was very serious。
〃Forgive me； Albert；〃 she said。 〃We have been joking； you and I；
but there was a time when wewhen your friends did not joke。 Oh；
Albert； if you could have seen the Snow place as I saw it then。 It
was as if all the hope and joy and everything worth while had been
crushed out of it。 Your grandmother； poor little woman； was brave
and quiet； but we all knew she was trying to keep up for Captain
Zelotes' sake。 And heAlbert； you can scarcely imagine how the
news of your death changed him。 。 。 。 Ah！ well； it was a hard
time； a dreadful time forfor every one。〃
She paused and he； turning to look at her； saw that there were
tears in her eyes。 He knew of her affection for his grandparents
and theirs for her。 Before he could speak she was smiling again。
〃But now that is all over； isn't it？〃 she said。 〃And the Snows are
the happiest people in the country； I do believe。 AND the proudest；
of course。 So now you must tell me all about it； about your
experiences； and about your war cross； and about your literary
workoh； about everything。〃
The all…inclusive narrative was not destined to get very far。 Old
Mr。 Kendall came hurrying in； the sermon on the casting down of
Baal in his hand。 Thereafter he led； guided； and to a large extent
monopolized the conversation。 His discourse had proceeded perhaps
as far as 〃Thirdly〃 when Albert； looking at his watch； was
surprised to find it almost dinner time。 Mr。 Kendall； still
talking； departed to his study to hunt for another sermon。 The
young people said good…by in his absence。
〃It has been awfully good to see you again； Helen；〃 declared
Albert。 〃But I told you that in the beginning； didn't I？ You
seem likewell； like a part of home； you know。 And home means
something to me nowadays。〃
〃I'm glad to hear you speak of South Harniss as home。 Of course I
know you don't mean to make it a permanent homeI imagine Madeline
would have something to say about thatbut it is nice to have you
speak as if the old town meant something to you。〃
He looke