WhatmotherthoughtIcannottell；andindeedIdoubtifshethoughtatallformorethanhalfanhour，butonlymanagedtoholdmetight，andcry，andthankGodnowandthen，butwithsomefearofHistakingme，ifsheshouldbetoograteful。Moreovershethoughtitwasmyowndoing，andIoughttohavethecreditofit，andsheevencamedownverysharplyuponJohn’swife，Mrs。Fry，forsayingthatwemustnotbetooproud，forallofitwastheLord’sdoing。However，dearmotherwasashamedofthatafterwards，andaskedMrs。Fry’shumblepardon；andperhapsIoughtnottohavementionedit。
OldSmilerhadtoldthemthatIwascoming——alltherest，Imean，exceptAnnie——forhavingescapedfromhishalter-ring，hewascomeouttograzeinthelaneabit；whenwhatshouldheseebutastrangehorsecomingwithyoungmasterandmistressuponhim，forAnniemustneedsgetupbehindme，therebeingonlysheeptolookather。ThenSmilergaveusastareandaneigh，withhistailquitestiffwithamazement，andthenwhetherinjoyorthroughindignationheflunguphishindfeetandgallopedstraighthome，andseteverydogwildwithbarking。
Now，methinks，quiteenoughhasbeensaidconcerningthismightyreturnoftheyoungJohnRiddwhichwasknownupatCosgatethatevening，andfeelingthatI
cannotdescribeit，howcanIhopethatanyoneelsewilllabourtoimagineit，evenofthefewwhoareable？Forveryfewcanhavetravelledsofar，unlessindeedtheywhosetradeitis，orveryunsettledpeople。Andevenofthosewhohavedoneso，notoneinahundredcanhavesuchahomeasIhadtocomehometo。
Motherweptagain，withgriefandsomewrath，andsodidAnniealso，andevenlittleEliza，andallwereunsettledinloyalty，andtalkedaboutarepublic，whenItoldthemhowIhadbeenleftwithoutmoneyfortravellinghomeward，andexpectedtohavetobegmyway，whichFarmerSnowewouldhaveheardof。AndthoughIcouldseetheyweredisappointedatmyfailureofanypromotion，theyalldeclaredhowgladtheywere，andhowmuchbettertheylikedmetobenomorethanwhattheywereaccustomedto。Atleast，mymotherandAnniesaidso，withoutwaitingtohearanymore；butLizziedidnotanswertoit，untilIhadopenedmybagandshownthebeautifulpresentIhadforher。Andthenshekissedme，almostlikeAnnie，andvowedthatshethoughtverylittleofcaptains。