Nothing meant a delightful possibility, and between the two he preferred the latter.

He whistled and sang as he drove to Onabasha, and Belshazzar looked at him with mystified eyes, for this was not the master he had known of late.

He did not recognize the dress or the manner, but his dog heart was sympathetic to the man's every mood, and he remembered times when a drive down the levee always had been like this, for to-night the Harvester's tongue was loosened and he talked in the old way.
"Just four words, Bel," he said.

"And, as I remarked before, they may mean the most wonderful thing on earth, and possibly nothing at all.
But it is in the heart of man to hope, Bel, and so we are going to live royally for a week or two, just on hope, old boy.

If anything should happen, we are ready, rooms shining, beds fresh, fireplaces filled and waiting a match, ice chest cool, and when we get back it will be stored.
Also a secret, Bel; we are going to a florist and a fruit store.