No one of the house servants would have spoiled the fun, and certainly no one of the great folks.

It was only when his visit to Moorlands was over and he had driven into town and had walked up his own front steps, that the true situation in all its glory and brilliancy dawned upon him.
The polished knobs, knocker, and the perfect level and whiteness of the marble steps first caught his eye; then the door swung open and Jemima in white apron and bandanna stood bowing to the floor, Todd straight as a ramrod in a new livery and a grin on his face that cut it in two, with Kate and Harry hidden behind them, suffocating from suppressed laughter.
"Why, you dear Jemima! Howdy--...

Why, who the devil sent that old table back, Todd, and the hall rack and--What!" Here he entered the dining-room.

Everything was as he remembered it in the old days.

"Harry! Kate!--Why--" then he broke down and dropped into a chair, his eyes still roaming around the room taking in every object, even the loving cup, which Mr.Kennedy had made a personal point of buying back from the French secretary, who was gracious enough to part with it when he learned the story of its enforced sale--each and every one of them--ready to spring forward from its place to welcome him! "So this," he stammered out--"is what you have kept me up at Moorlands for, is it?
You never say a word to me--and--Oh, you children!--you children! Todd, did you ever see anything like it ?--my guns--and the loving cup--and the clock, and--Come here you two blessed things and let me get my arms around you! Kiss me, Kate--and Harry, my son--give me your hand.