"Oh, nothing. Just a trifle muddy. Mother can describe her appearance better than we can I reckon," laughed Athol, Jr. The Admiral bent his keen eyes upon the boys. He was a handsome old gentleman and wonderfully well-preserved for his seventy-three years. "And I'll lay a wager you fellows started the ball rolling and Beverly had to brace up and stop it," he nodded. "We didn't! Honest, Uncle Athol, we didn't! Did we Arch?" "Ask Bev. Here she comes," laughed Archie pointing toward the stairs down which a demure, spick and span, duck-clothed young lady was making her way with all the propriety of a young boarding-house-miss-in-the-making. Instantly Athol had sprung to his feet and was mincing along behind the Admiral in such perfect mimicry of his sister that Archie hooted. Beverly scorned to notice the by-play and asked: "Do you want me Uncle Athol?" "Yes, come along into my study for this er-er--well perplexing question is going to be settled right here and now." Realizing that the settling meant a separation for a shorter or longer time, and for a greater or less distance, however determined, the boys sobered down and followed the others into the study. There is no use going into details. The letters were duly read and discussed and it was decided that early the next morning Admiral Seldon and Mrs. Ashby should visit two of the schools, those nearest Sprucy Branch being selected. "And please, Uncle Athol, choose Leslie Manor. It's so near Kilton Hall that the boys can ride over to see me and I can go to see them," begged Beverly, clasping her hands about her great-uncle's arm and looking up into his face in a manner to coax the birds off the bushes. He drew her into his circling arm and turning her face up to his asked, as he kissed the soft lips. "And how in kingdom come do you suppose _I'm_ going to get on without your coming to see me often, you torment of my soul. And how do you expect the boys to cover those ten miles between Leslie Manor and Kilton Hall, much less you? And a pretty stir-up it would make if you were to go to their school, wouldn't it, you huzzy." "Why, I'm Athol's sister, and almost Archie's too. Why couldn't I go? We'll have our horses, of course." "Lord bless my soul, are you counting on moving the whole of Woodbine up yonder?" asked the Admiral in dismay. "Why no, Uncle Athol, but of course we must take Snowdrift, Royal and Apache," answered Beverly as a matter of course. Whereupon Archie and Athol, standing just behind the Admiral, and Beverly fell upon each other's necks. Such an idea as taking their horses with them had never for a moment entered the boy's heads. "Well, we'll see; We'll see," temporized the old gentleman, "No" seeming to have been left out of the vocabulary he employed in speaking to Beverly. An hour was spent in discussing the subject pro and con and at its end Admiral Seldon cried: