But in a case like this it is all right . Father came last night after I had gone to bed . And after Grandma and Mary Joe had stopped being surprised he and Grandma came upstairs to look at me , not meaning to wake me up till morning . But I woke right up and saw father . I tell you I just sprang at him . '' `` With a hug like a bear 's , '' said Mr. Irving , putting his arms around Paul 's shoulder smilingly . `` I hardly knew my boy , he had grown so big and brown and sturdy . '' `` I do n't know which was the most pleased to see father , Grandma or I , '' continued Paul . `` Grandma 's been in kitchen all day making the things father likes to eat . She would n't trust them to Mary Joe , she says . That 's HER way of showing gladness . I like best just to sit and talk to father . But I 'm going to leave you for a little while now if you 'll excuse me . I must get the cows for Mary Joe . That is one of my daily duties . '' When Paul had scampered away to do his `` daily duty '' Mr. Irving talked to Anne of various matters . But Anne felt that he was thinking of something else underneath all the time . Presently it came to the surface . `` In Paul 's last letter he spoke of going with you to visit an old ... friend of mine ... Miss Lewis at the stone house in Grafton . Do you know her well ? ''
`` Yes , indeed , she is a very dear friend XXXXX mine , '' was Anne 's demure reply , which gave no hint of the sudden thrill that tingled over her from head to foot at Mr. Irving 's question .
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