“There’s a whole basket full of stockings to darn, and you ought to have been at it an hour ago; only this having a visitor puts everything back; not but what he was a very agreeable young man, too,” said Susan Palmer, as she led the way, followed by her daughter, to the family sitting-room, where just then a patch-work quilt was stretched out in the frame, and all the women and girls of the house, except Em. and her mother, were seated at it, industriously quilting. Susan joined the quilters and Em. sat down to her basket of stockings. So the family routine was taken up again. Days passed, and the visit of young Ronald Bruce was nearly forgotten by all the busy family except Em., who, more was the pity, thought of him all day and dreamed of him all night. “I can’t think what has come over the child!” said John. “She is so silent.” “She wants amusement. She wants some change. Some companions of her own age. She is not a child any longer, but a young woman,” said Susan. “Well, I know; but she can drive, and she can ride, and she can row,” said John; “and she used to be very fond of doing that when she first came down here.” “Oh, yes, it was all new to her then; but it is all played out now. Em. wants the company of young people of her own age. Here she has only old folks and children.” “Well, poor gal, I wish I could give her all she wants,” sighed John. “Where is she now?” “Sitting out in the back porch making a dress for Mrs. Whitlock.” No more was said at the time. Weeks passed and nothing more was heard of Ronald Bruce. “I wonder why he does not come,” sighed Em. to herself. “He seemed so delighted to see me, so anxious to know whether I was going to stay in the neighborhood, and so overjoyed when I told him that I was living here permanently. He even told me that would decide him to remain with his uncle. And yet he has never called here since, though father invited him so cordially to do so. Perhaps he stays away because father has not returned his visit; but surely a young gentleman like himself would not stand on ceremony with a plain, elderly overseer like poor father. Oh, dear, I don’t understand it at all, and I wish I could stop thinking about it.” But she did not stop thinking about it, although she busied herself more actively and constantly than ever with her household duties. Two months passed, and the very memory of the young lieutenant’s visit, which had broken the monotony of their life in the Wilderness, seemed to have faded away into dreamland. The golden days of October were at hand, and still no news was heard of their neighbor, Ronald Bruce. One glorious autumn morning about this time the family had finished breakfast and John and the boys had gone out to work. Susan and the other women and children were gathered in the family sitting-room, where a cheerful wood fire burned on the hearth.