In a few minutes they were at the gates opening into the back courtyard under the shadow of the mountain, this being the nearer approach to the house from the direction of The Breezes. Here John Palmer and his boys waited to receive them. John led the party up to the house, while the boys took away the horses to the rear stables. At the door of the house Susan Palmer received her late visitors. She had been prepared by Dr. Willet, who had informed her of the unexpected return of the long missing Leonidas Bruce, so she showed no surprise at his appearance, and under the serious circumstances gave him only the general welcome extended to the whole party. “Walk in here, ladies and gentlemen,” she said, opening the door of a well-warmed and lighted parlor, where a fine fire of hickory logs blazed in the broad fireplace, and two tall “mold” candles, in taller brass candlesticks, stood on the high mantel-shelf. “Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable, while I take Em. up to see the poor soul, for so she desired me to do first of all,” added Mrs. Palmer as she placed chairs near the fire for her guests. When they were seated she beckoned Em., who arose to follow her, then bowed to her guests, and left the room. As soon as they reached the hall outside Susan Palmer astonished Em. by suddenly throwing her arms around the girl’s neck, bursting into tears, and exclaiming: “Oh! my child, you’ll love us all the same! You’ll love us all the same! You’ll love us all the same!” “Dear mother, what is the matter?” inquired the girl in alarm. “Oh! Em., say you will! Say you will!” “Will _what_? I’ll do _all_ you wish, dear mother, only tell me _what_!” exclaimed the frightened girl. “Love us just as much! Just as much, Em.! Oh, just as much!” sobbed the woman. “My own dear mother,” murmured Em., caressing and soothing the excited creature, although she herself was frightened half out of her senses at the agitation she could not comprehend—“my own dear mother, I love you and shall always love you. Compose yourself. Do not doubt me. Is it because Commodore Bruce has consented that his nephew shall marry me? Have you already heard that, and do you think it could make any difference in my love for you? It could not, dear mother, not one bit!” “Oh! no, Em., no! It isn’t _that_. I’m not such a fool as to take on so about _that_. Of course I knew you would marry some time. Besides, I hadn’t even heard of it. Oh! no, Em., it is not that! It is worse than that. Heaven forgive me, it is better than that. No, it is _worse_. Oh, Em.! Em.! Em.!” And Susan Palmer fell to weeping. “My own dear, dear mother, I never knew you to be so nervous in my life before. Surely you are not well. Oh, what _is_ the matter?” exclaimed the girl, her alarm rising to terror.