He threw his arms round my neck and kissed me fervently on both cheeks
as he whispered in a trembling voice:
"Oh, thank God we've got you back again! Welcome home, my dear
boy--welcome--welcome! Thanks be to God from your mother and me and all
of us! O my God, my God!--it has been a hard time!"
He shook me as you shake a friend in exuberant joy. And then he took my
arm. "Why, I could not recognize you at first," he said with a little
smile. "You have changed--somewhat.... But on the whole you are looking
quite well."
"Yes, am I not?" I said. "Quite well--I think so myself."