Is it too late ? '' he asked gravely . She pointed to the scar . `` Could you endure seeing this opposite to you every day at your table ? '' she asked bitterly . `` Yes -- if I could see your sweet eyes and your beloved smile with it , Avery , '' he answered passionately . `` Oh , Avery , it was you I loved -- not your outward favor . Oh , how foolish you were -- foolish and morbid ! You always put too high a value on beauty , Avery . If I had dreamed of the true state of the case -- if I had known you were here all these years -- why I heard a rumor long ago that you had married , Avery -- but if I had known I would have come to you and made you be -- sensible . '' She gave a little laugh at his lame conclusion . That was so like the old Walter . Then her eyes filled with tears as he took her in his arms . * * * * * The door of the blue room opened . Jims did not look up . It was Aunt Augusta , of course -- and she had heard the whole story . `` Jims , boy . '' Jims lifted his miserable eyes . It was Uncle Walter -- but a different Uncle Walter -- an Uncle Walter with laughing eyes and a strange radiance of youth about him . `` Poor , lonely little fellow , '' said Uncle Walter unexpectedly .
`` Jims , would you like Miss Avery to come here -- and live XXXXX us always -- and be your real aunt ? ''
Walter at if like of on that to with years