He had filled his head with an unlimited stock of boarding-house information, as well as with a firm persuasion that there was little more to be had,--unless, indeed, it might be scraps of such outside knowledge as he had now been picking up over on Long Island.
In one of the large "parlor-chambers" of the boarding-house, at about eight o'clock that evening, a middle-aged gentleman and lady, with a fair, sweet-faced girl of about nineteen, were sitting near an open window, very much as if they were waiting for somebody.

Such a kind, motherly lady! She was one of those whom no one can help liking, after seeing her smile once, or hearing her speak.
Ford Foster himself could not have put in words what he thought about his mother.

And yet he had no difficulty whatever in expressing his respect for his father, or his unbounded admiration for his pretty sister Annie.
"O husband!" exclaimed Mrs.Foster, "are you sure none of them were injured ?" "So the telegraphic report said; not a bone broken of anybody, but the pig that got in the way." "How I wish he would come!" groaned Annie.

"Have you any idea, father, how Ford could get to the city ?" "Not clearly, my dear," said her father; "but you can trust Ford not to miss any opportunity.

He's just the boy to look out for himself in an emergency." Ford Foster's father took very strongly after the son in whose presence of mind and ability he expressed so much confidence.