Gertrude's name was mentioned; and after some thought, the gentleman said, "I must go and see her. If she is as ignorant and unformed as you state, she must be placed in a good family school; but I cannot tell what is best till I hear her plead her own cause." In the meantime Mr. Dudley having accepted a seat in an open wagon by the side of a good-natured looking farmer, began to gaze about him. On every side the most picturesque views met his eye;—the majestic river white with sails, varied now and then by a huge iron chimney, puffing and belching forth its smoke, rolled calmly on its course to the sea. The high bluffs, a continuation of the Highlands, rising, and breaking against the sky;—the pretty villas dotting the banks of the river;—the patches of cultivated land varied by the richest green sward; each in turn rivetted his attention, and called forth an exclamation of delight. "I reckon you're a stranger in these parts," the countryman said, after having surveyed his companion from head to foot. "Yes." "Going to stop a spell?" "Uncertain, how long." "Going to Rose Cottage, hey? Wall I hope Hannah Goldby knows she's going to have visitors." Paul's curiosity was roused and overlooking the familiarity of the driver, which a moment before had excited his disgust, he asked with a smile: "Is a visitor at Rose Cottage a very uncommon event?" "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the man, leaning back to enjoy the joke. "Uncommon? ha! ha! ha! why there hasn't been a visitor at Rose Cottage, to my knowledge, since the young man went off to college better'n a year ago. Hannah wont have 'em." He shook his head in a mysterious manner, conveying the idea that he could tell strange things if he had a mind. Paul mentally resolved that his stay should be very brief. After a pause he remarked: "The woman takes charge of the little girl, I suppose." This speech caused another burst of merriment. When he recovered himself the man said, "I 'spose she don't. The little girl takes care of her, more likely. She's a regular—" Here a terrible jolt broke up the sentence, and presently, a man hailed the driver, and asked how far he was going. Before he was answered, the stranger was subjected to a survey that would have done honor to a detective; then squirting a mouthful of tobacco juice beyond the wheel, he said to Dudley: "There's Rose Cottage just behind that clump of linden trees; 'tisn't more'n a quarter of a mile. I think it's likely I shall turn off here." After offering payment for the accommodation, which was answered by another: "Ha! ha! ha! 'tisn't likely I want pay for such a trifle," Mr. Dudley descended from the wagon by an elastic spring over the wheel; and taking one carpet bag in each hand he started off in the direction indicated. CHAPTER III. THE RECEPTION.