"Now take
your coat off, and come right in by the fire. Do tell me all about
your visit."
Before that cozy fire they chatted. It was pleasant to the boy to sit
there with that sweet-faced woman with those kindly eyes! After a
while she said: "Now I shall put on my coat and hat, and we shall walk
over to Emerson's house. I am almost afraid to promise that you will
see him. He sees scarcely any one now. He is feeble, and--" She did
not finish the sentence. "But we'll walk over there, at any rate."
She spoke mostly of her father as the two walked along, and it was easy
to see that his condition was now the one thought of her life.
Presently they reached Emerson's house, and Miss Emerson welcomed them
at the door. After a brief chat Miss Alcott told of the boy's hope.
Miss Emerson shook her head.
"Father sees no one now," she said, "and I fear it might not be a
pleasure if you did see him."
Then Edward told her what Phillips Brooks had said.
"Well," she said, "I'll see."
She had scarcely left the room when Miss Alcott rose and followed her,
saying to the boy: "You shall see Mr.
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