ThegentlemanfromBengalwasstanding，disconcertedbythisincident，whenthedoorofthe92openedofitselfandBecky’slittleheadpeepedoutfullofarchnessandmischief。ShelightedonJos。”It’syou。”shesaid，comingout。”HowIhavebeenwaitingforyou！Stop！
notyet——inoneminuteyoushallcomein。”Inthatinstantsheputarouge-pot，abrandybottle，andaplateofbrokenmeatintothebed，gaveonesmoothtoherhair，andfinallyletinhervisitor。
Shehad，bywayofmorningrobe，apinkdomino，atriflefadedandsoiled，andmarkedhereandtherewithpomaturn；butherarmsshoneoutfromtheloosesleevesofthedressverywhiteandfair，anditwastiedroundherlittlewaistsoasnotilltosetoffthetrimlittlefigureofthewearer。SheledJosbythehandintohergarret。
“Comein。”shesaid。”Comeandtalktome。Sityonderonthechair“；andshegavethecivilian’shandalittlesqueezeandlaughinglyplacedhimuponit。Asforherself，sheplacedherselfonthebed——notonthebottleandplate，youmaybesure——onwhichJosmighthavereposed，hadhechosenthatseat；andsothereshesatandtalkedwithheroldadmirer。
“Howlittleyearshavechangedyou。”shesaidwithalookoftenderinterest。”Ishouldhaveknownyouanywhere。Whatacomfortitisamongststrangerstoseeoncemorethefrankhonestfaceofanoldfriend！”