"And the town," she added; "no doubt you find the town improved too?" "Altered," said Conrad, thinking of the market garden. "Well, it is certainly bigger." "The rapid development of Sweetbay can astonish none who bear in mind its remarkable combination of climatic advantages, but the sylvan fairness of the town is not diminished, and it continues to present an unrivalled example of the 'rus in urbe,'" responded the lady with surprising fluency. "Do you take sugar and milk?" "Ah--thank you," he said. "Are you making a long stay among us, or----?" "A very brief one. Indeed, I thought of returning to-morrow." "Oh!" There was a tinge of disappointment in her "Oh." "I wondered if you meant to stop. If you had meant to pass the winter here-- But I daresay you would have preferred an hotel anyhow?" "I don't understand," he said, sipping. "What is it you were going to be good enough to suggest?" "It occurred to me that, as the house has so many associations for you, you might have liked to take it for a short term. I am trying to let it furnished during the next few months, and I could leave the servants. My cook has been with me now----" "You would let this house to me?" exclaimed Conrad, thrilling, and saw such splendid visions that for quite a minute he forgot to attend to her. "If the rent is too high--?" She was regarding him nervously. "Not at all," he cried, "not at all. I was simply lost in the effulgent prospect that you've opened to me." "Really?" "It was an inspiration. How kind of you to mention it." She deprecated gratitude. "There would be no children, of course?" she said, her gaze dwelling among her china. "Four," he answered promptly. "That is, the youngest must be about thirty-five now. I beg your pardon, but _I_ have had an inspiration, too, I'm dazzled by the idea of peopling the house with the men and women who were children here five-and-twenty years ago; I dare swear my relatives have never set foot in Sweetbay since. We'll be comrades all over again-- You know how Time loosens these childish ties--in the very place, in the very rooms, where we were such comrades then. Why, it's the most delightful plan that was ever hatched!" He hesitated. "I wonder if they'll come? How about the trains? One of my cousins would have to go up rather often, I expect." "The railway company has combined with Mother Nature and a spirited Corporation to render Sweetbay attractive to the jaded Londoner. The service is fast and frequent, and well-appointed 'flys' may be chartered at most reasonable fares," replied his hostess without an instant's pause. "How convenient!" said Conrad. "What more can he want?"