"I hope he will. He was my poor mother's favorite brother—always kind and good-hearted. How is he looking, Bert?"

 

"He seems in good health for an old man. His face is browned up, as if he had been out in the open air a good deal."

 

"I hope he has. It is twenty-five years since he went to California. Does he look as if he had prospered¹?"

 

"I am afraid he is poor, mother, for although his clothing is neat and clean, it is plain and the cloth is faded?"

 

"I am sorry to hear that, but I will welcome him none the less warmly. It will indeed seem like old times to have Uncle Jacob in my house."

 

Meanwhile Bert had been bringing in wood and doing chores for his mother.

 

"Did Uncle Jacob tell you how long he intended to stay in Lakeville?"

 

"No, mother; I only had a short time to talk with him when Percy rode by, and then he started to call on the squire². Do you know, mother, I am rather surprised that he should have been so well received, poor as he looks."

 

"I think better of Albert for it. It shows that he is not so worldly as I feared. Certainly Uncle Jacob ought to be well received25 by Albert Marlowe, for when Albert's father was in trouble Jacob lent him five hundred dollars—all in money he had—and I feel sure the money has not been repaid to him to this day."

 

"I don't think Percy will be very cordial. You know what high notions he has."

 

"He gets them principally from his mother, who is extremely aristocratic in her ideas."

 

"Was she of a high family?"

 

Mrs. Barton smiled.

 

"Her father was a fisherman," she replied, "and when a girl she used to run barefoot on the sand. Later on she sewed straw for a living. She is no worse for that, certainly, but it doesn't give her any claims to aristocracy."

 

"Do you think Percy knows about his mother's early life?"

 

"I presume she has kept it secret from him."

 

"I shall think of it when Percy gets into one of his patronizing moods."

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