"Pay you a visit?"
"Yes, pay me a visit; spend several weeks at my house in company with your mother, of course."
"And if we should leave the inn who will attend to things in our absence?" replied Joel.
"But your presence here is not necessary after the excursion season is over, I imagine; so I have fully made up my mind to come for you late in the autumn."
"It will be impossible, my dear Mister Sylvius, for us to accept—"
"On the contrary, it will be perfectly possible. Don't say no. I shall not be content with such an answer. Besides, when I get you there in the very best room in my house, in the care of my old Kate and faithful Fink, you will be my own children, and then you can certainly tell me what I can do for you."
"What you can do for us?" repeated Joel, with a glance at his sister.
"Brother!" exclaimed Hulda, as if divining his intention.
"Speak, my boy, speak!"