The electric arcs swung white light up and down the station, the smoke of a sidetracked freight hung low and heavy in the valley, the teams of the afternoon drivers were rattling across the high bridge, their occupants looking with laughing interest on the scene below. Suddenly with shriek and roar the Southern train was in. "Vir--gin--i--a." "Vir--gin--i--a." "Rah--rah--rah!" The men gave a great yell. A young girl in one of the coaches flung up a window and looked out. "Rah--rah--rah!" The young girl snapped down the window. Another face, curious and likewise pretty, showed at the pane. The young men were wildly enthusiastic. "Vir--gin--i--a." "Vir--gin--i--a--" The yell drowned all other sounds, and Lawson was astonished to see, as it ended, Frances springing from her trap a few yards away and hastening forward. The conductor waited gallantly at the steps of one of the coaches, the porter came down another flight, laden with bundles, and at the door, their cheeks showing red with suppressed fun and excitement behind their veils, appeared the two pretty young women. "Vir--gin--i--a--." The yell died away as the men saw the professor's daughter greeting the arrivals with laughing welcome. They fell to guying each other mercilessly. But Lawson, standing not far away, came at once to Frances' assistance. "Let me help you!" He reached for some of the bundles. "Oh, thank you! Mr. Lawson, these are my Richmond friends, Miss Rowan, Mr. Lawson! Miss Martin!" The young women held out their gloved hands and Lawson welcomed them impressively. He assisted them into the trap with careful gallantry, the strangers, both of them, in the back seat, the packages stored at their feet. Frances was subduing the antics of Starlight, who after standing quietly when there was need, took occasion to seem shocked at the engine now that his driver was in place and he felt the touch of the reins on his bit, and to stand protestingly on his hind feet and paw the air. The strangers were frightened. "Can you manage him, Frances?" cried one. "Oh, let me get out!" the other pleaded. "We'll come up on the street car!" Miss Rowan declared, white with fear. "Sit still!" commanded Frances, shortly. "Come down, Starlight! behave yourself!" she reached for the whip. "Don't strike him! There's no telling what he would do!" begged the visitors. Lawson, near, stalwart and interested, seemed a godsend. "Do come with us!" pleaded Elizabeth Martin, who in all emergencies turned to the nearest man. "There's no need," he began. Starlight had all fours on solid earth once more. "Jump in!" laughed Frances, nodding to the empty seat; she pulled Starlight around, waited a second for Lawson to get in, and then came down sharply on Starlight's flank with the whip. The horse made a plunge, straight for the platform, the men scattered right and left, and Starlight went snorting up the winding road to the street above. "Let Mr. Lawson drive!" besought Miss Martin.