Soon the large porch with its green blinds, and the sweetbrier entwining them, came in view, and the family party that occupied it were discernible.

Before Mr.Barbour had reached the point for alighting from his horse, a servant stood in readiness to take charge of him, and Alice Weston emerged from her hiding-place among the roses, with her usual sweet words of welcome.

Mr.Weston, the owner of the mansion and its adjoining plantation, arose with a dignified but cordial greeting; and Mrs.
Weston, his sister-in-law, and Miss Janet, united with him in his kind reception of a valued guest and friend.
Mr.Weston was a widower, with an only son; the young gentleman was at this time at Yale College.

He had been absent for three years; and so anxious was he to graduate with honor, that he had chosen not to return to Virginia until his course of study should be completed.

The family had visited him during the first year of his exile, as he called it, but it had now been two years since he had seen any member of it.