May I ride Dixy, Uncle Jim ?" "Yes, if you have a riding-habit you can wear.

We will see to that.

You have grown a good bit, but I fancy we can manage." "And how is Pole, aunt; and the doctor and Crocker and his fat wife--oh, and everybody ?" "Oh, much, as usual.

We had a skirmish about mutton, but the last Pole sent is good--in fact, excellent.

He needs watching." Then the talk fell on the lessened work at the mills, and there being now four players the Squire had his whist again, and later carried Rivers away to smoke in the library, leaving Ann and Leila.
As the library door closed, Leila dropped on a cushion at her aunt's feet, and with her head in Ann's lap expressed her contentment by a few moments of silence.