"Mother," said Fritz, taking Mrs. Becker's arm, "I want you all to
myself."
"I object to that, if you please," cried Jack, taking her other arm.
"Why, you boys seem extravagantly fond of your mother to-day," said
Mrs. Becker, gaily.
"Well, you see, mother, we have the right to have an idea now and
then--Willis has one every week."
"So long as your ideas are about myself, I have no reason to object to
them," said Mrs. Becker, smiling.
"We have always been dutiful sons, have we not, mother?" inquired
Fritz.
"Yes, always."
"You are well pleased with us then?"
"Yes, surely."
"We have never caused you any uneasiness, have we?" inquired Jack.
"That is to say, inadvertently," added Fritz; "designedly is out of
the question."
"No, not even inadvertently," replied their mother.
"Were you very sorry when Frank and Ernest were going to leave us?"
"Yes, my children, the tears still burn my cheek."
"Nevertheless, you knew that it was for the common welfare, and you
felt resigned to the separation."
"But why do you ask such a question now?"
"Well, _a propos de rien_, mother," replied Jack, "simply because we
love you, and, like misers, we treasure your love."
Towards the afternoon both families were again assembled under the
trees at Falcon's Nest This time it was dinner that brought them
together; the repast consisted of cold meats of various kinds, but the
chief dish was a wonderful salad, the rich, fresh odor of which
perfumed the air.
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