84 The Illumination of Joseph Keeler, Esq. 



"How are your cows?" and insisted on particulars regarding 

 the health of "Frisky," "Jenny," "Rosy" and "Blacky" 

 all being his calves. Fanny in return had to describe in detail 

 the progress of the cottage and when she invited them all to the 

 house-warming in February, Ernest's spirits became ebullient. 



The happy holiday week went by, only too soon, with the 

 many friends of Fanny calling and all expressing delight at her 

 restored health. Naturally John Keeler was reserved and, 

 with a proper perception, felt that he had yet to prove himself 

 and make worthy amends for an unfortunate past by real deeds 

 before he could look "the whole world in the face," and tread 

 with firmness its broad highway. As Ernest longed to see the 

 Farm, the improvements and the progress of all its operations, 

 the happy party was broken up after several mornings happily 

 spent by Fanny and her two brothers in selecting proper fur- 

 nishings for the new home, and the three returned together, 

 Fanny and John sufficiently gratified in enjoying Ernest's 

 exclamations of delight as he examined every detail of the build- 

 ing of which he was to be the proprietor and Fanny "The Lady 

 of the House. " From the cows and horses at the barns to the 

 lumbering operations in the woods the boy passed, spending 

 every hour finding some matter of interest, so that it was with 

 much regret that he tore himself away at the end of a week to 

 return to his college work. 



John Keeler, while spending his holiday in the city quietly, 

 had not refused the friendship of those who chose to call upon 

 him, and amongst such was the close friend of Maud, Miss 

 Mary Morrison, between whom and himself there had for years 

 existed an understanding, based on the mutual regard of children, 

 which might long since have ripened into a positive engagement 

 had not John's habits, time and again, made such on her part 

 most imprudent. Her delight and pleasure now at finding 

 him on her first call "clothed and in his right mind" and re- 

 stored to health, yet hesitating to express more than ordinary 

 pleasure at seeing her again, were too evident to John Keeler, 

 whose face lighted with an expressive smile of gratitude, as the 

 kind girl's heightened colour expressed her sympathetic regard. 

 Her call lengthened to a visit and she forgot time, watching 

 his pleased face, as she encouraged him by inquiries to tell of all 



