"In politics," continued Mrs. Morris,--"and Northern politics, Isabel. Arthur's will be in the church!" "Yes," said the other, but her whole attention was within the fence at their side, where a rough stile, made in boyhood days by the two brothers and Leonard, led over into the garden. She sprang up. "Let's go, mother; he's coming!" "Who, my child?" "Both! Come, dear, come quickly! Oh, I don't know why we ever came out at all!" "My dear, it was you proposed it, lest some one should come in!" The daughter had moved some steps down the road, but now turned again; for Ruth and Godfrey, returning, came out through the garden's high gateway. However, they were giving all their smiles to the greetings which the General sent them from his piazza. "Come over, mother!" called Isabel, in a stifled voice. "Cross to the hill path!" But before they could reach it Arthur and Leonard came into full view on the stile. Isabel motioned her mother despairingly toward them, wheeled once more, and with a gay call for Ruth's notice hurried to meet her in the middle of the way. III ARTHUR AND LEONARD Godfrey passed over to the General, who had walked down to his gate on his way to the great elm. Out from behind the elm came the other two men, Arthur leading and talking briskly:-- "The sooner the better, Leonard. Now while my work is new and taking shape--Ah! here's Mrs. Morris." Both men were handsome. Arthur, not much older than Ruth, was of medium height, slender, restless, dark, and eager of glance and speech. Leonard was nearer the age of Godfrey; fairer than Arthur, of a quieter eye, tall, broad-shouldered, powerful, lithe, and almost tamely placid. Mrs. Morris met them with animation. "Have our churchwarden and our rector been having another of their long talks?" The joint reply was cut short by Godfrey's imperative hail: "Leonard!" As Byington turned that way, Arthur said quietly to Mrs. Morris, "He's promised to retain charge"--and nodded toward Isabel. The nod meant Isabel's financial investments. "And mine?" murmured the well-pleased lady. "Both." The two gave heed again to Godfrey, who was loudly asking Leonard, "Why didn't you tell us the news?" "Oh," drawled Leonard smilingly, "I knew father would." "I haven't talked with Godfrey since he came," said Mrs. Morris; and as she left Arthur she asked his brother: "What news? Has the governor truly made him"-- "District attorney, yes," said Godfrey. "Ruth, I think you might have told me." "Godfrey, I think you might have asked me," laughed the girl, drawing Isabel toward Arthur and Leonard, in order to leave Mrs. Morris to Godfrey. Arthur moved to meet them, but Ruth engaged him with a question, and Isabel turned to Leonard, offering her felicitations with a sweetness that gave Arthur tearing pangs to overhear.