"By their nags ye shall know them," said John. "Who are these estimable youths? I look upon them with the eye of jealousy." "Bob Morgan? Oh, he's Dr. Morgan's son. You passed his house near the post-office. And the McRaes live at Cotswold; there's a big family of them. Will you ring for tea, Mr. Wendell?" "I fly to do your bidding, even though it be to succor my rivals, for such I feel they are," and he slapped his chest melodramatically. Much stamping of feet and shaking of garments heralded the announcement of the two young men by Uncle Jimmy, the old colored butler. "How good of you both to come in this weather," said Sydney, flashing a greeting at each one in turn. "You are just in time to prevent Miss Wendell from being bored to death." "Delighted to prevent your demise," said Patton, promptly, and attached himself at once to Katrina's following. "Uncle Jimmy," said Sydney to the old man who was poking the fire with an assiduity born of a desire to stay in the room as long as possible, "tell Mrs. Carroll that tea is just coming in, and that Mr. Bob and Mr. Patton are here." "See what you've brought us, Mr. McRae," Katrina was saying, as a ray of sunshine broke the twilight darkness. The mountains stood a deep and penetrable blue against a golden break behind the Balsams. Fierce black clouds hurried across the upper sky, dragging after them ragged ends of mist, and beneath this roofing the setting sun aimed its luminous shafts across the _rest_ made by Pisgah's rugged peak. No one broke the spell of beauty by a word, but Wendell saw a glance pass between Sydney and Bob,--the look of sympathy sure of its fellow. The sound of Mrs. Carroll's cane brought them all to their feet. She entered, tiny, autocratic, keen, leaning upon Uncle Jimmy's faithful arm. "Good afternoon, Bob. Good afternoon, Patton. You are doubly welcome on this stormy day. Put my chair a little more to the side of the fireplace, Bob. Yes, Patton, the footstool, if you please. You may go, James. John, the hook for my cane is on the left of the mantel-piece. Katrina, tell Sydney to put a shade less cream in my tea than she did yesterday. No cake, thank you, John, but a rusk,--yes, a rusk appeals to me. Bob, what wild thing did you do on that horse of yours on your way here?" "Not a thing, Mrs. Carroll. He came along like a Shetland pony. Gray Eagle doesn't like rain. It depresses him." "Patton is riding the black mare to-day, grandmother," called Sydney from behind her tea equipage. The old lady raised her eyes in comical despair and shook her head mournfully. "You certainly have courage, my dear child." "Only the courage of a Cotswold lion, I'm afraid. But you mustn't be distressed about her, she's really beginning to do Sydney credit."