"Oh, don't talk to me about shrines and sacrifices! That's all out of the romances you wear your eyes out reading at night. I believe in neighbors and in kinsfolks, not in strangers and foreigners. There!" "Well, Molly, you have a right to your own opinions, and the Forces have a right to theirs. You must admit that!" "Yes; and the heathen have a right to theirs, I suppose you think, Sukey." "No; that is carrying the matter too far. But good-by, Molly. We must go now. We will be back as soon as we can." The departing ones kissed their relatives, and went out to the block, where Dan stood holding the horse. Henny followed with a heavy shawl, which she folded and laid upon the saddle. "Mind, girl; as soon as you have cleaned up the room, get ready and come after us. We may stay longer than we expect Down on the Bay, so you must bring a change of clothes with you. Be sure to start from here in time to get to Oldfield before night. I don't like, the idea of your going through the forest alone after dark," said Miss Grandiere. "Nebber you fear, Miss Sukey. I be down at Olefiel' by de time yo' dere yo'se'f--fo' sundown, anyhow," said the negro girl, as she helped her mistress to climb into the saddle, and then lifted Rosemary up to a seat behind her. "Now, Miss Rose'ry, yo' hole on tight. Put yo' arms 'roun' yo' Aunt Sukey's waist, and hole on tight. Don't you slip off! Look'ee here, yo' nigger Dan; yo' walk 'longside ob dis chile, case she fall off. Tell yo' wot, nigger, ef dis chile fall off an' break her arm or anyfing, yo' better not show yo' face at Olefiel'--nor likewise here, needer! Yo' hears me, doan yo'?" "Oh, Aunt Henny, I am not going to fall off; nor neither would Dan let me. Poor Dan! Don't scold him beforehand," pleaded Rosemary. "High, chile, 'twould be too late to scold arterward. Wot I sez is, do you' scoldin' an' yo' whippin' 'fo' dere's any cause fer it--'taint no good to do it arterward; 'twon't ondo nuffin' wot's done," said Henny; but her wisdom was lost on the party, who had already started on their way, aunt and niece riding double, and Dan walking beside the horse. Their way lay over snow-covered ground, through bare woods, up and down rolling hills, and over frozen streams. It was three o'clock in the afternoon when they emerged from the last piece of woods and entered upon a cultivated clearing, in which stood an old-fashioned farmhouse, with a steep roof with gable ends, dormer windows, and wide porches, surrounded by its barn, granaries and negro quarters. As Miss Grandiere pulled up at the horse block before the door, a lady, tall, stately, handsome, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, very like Miss Grandiere herself, and handsomely dressed in a puce-colored silk pelisse, and a beaver bonnet, appeared at the door, and said: