CHAPTER LXII 
HOME-COMING 
Even Polly was satisfied with our young 
people before we entered New York Bay. If 
anything in their “left pulmonaries” had re- 
mained unsoftened during the voyage out and 
the comradery of the Netherlands, it was melted 
into non-resistance by the homeward trip. I 
could not long hold out against the evidence of 
happiness that surrounded me, and I gave a half- 
grudging consent that Jarvis and Jane might play 
together for the next three or four years, if they 
would not ask to play “for keeps” until those 
years had passed. They readily gave the promise, 
but every one knows how such promises are kept. 
The children wore me out in time, as all children 
do in all kinds of ways, and got their own ways 
in less than half the contract period. I cannot 
put my finger on any punishment that has be- 
fallen them for this lack of filial consideration, 
and I am fifteen-sixteenths reconciled. 
I was downright glad that Jack “made good” 
with Jessie Gordon. She was the sort of girl 
to get out the best that was in him, and I was 
glad to have her begin early. Try as I might, I 
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