So Maud played and Charles turned the music for her, and Major Grover listened and talked with Ruth Armstrong in the intervals between selections.

And Jed and Barbara chatted and Captain Sam beamed good humor upon every one.

It was a very pleasant, happy afternoon.

War and suffering and heartache and trouble seemed a long, long way off.
On the way back to the shop in the chill November dusk Grover told Jed a little of what he had called to discuss with him.

If Jed's mind had been of the super-critical type it might have deemed the subject of scarcely sufficient importance to warrant the major's pursuing him to the Hunniwells'.