She could not expect the colonel to say anything bad of him, but she was not prepared for his frank response. “The likeliest chap in Kentucky. Nothing dandified about him, to be sure. Wears his trouser legs in his boots as often as any way, and don’t stand about the very latest cut of his coat, but he’s got a heart bigger than an _ox_—yes, big as _ten_ oxen! I’d trust him with my life, and know it was safe as his own. You’ll like Hugh— Nell does.” The colonel never dreamed of the comfort his words gave Alice, or how they changed her feelings with regard to one whom she had so dreaded to meet. “There ’tis; we’re almost there,” the colonel said at last, as they turned off from the highway, and leaning forward Alice caught sight of the roofs and dilapidated chimneys of Spring Bank. “’Tain’t quite as fixey as Yankee houses, that’s a fact, but we that own niggers never do have things so smarted up,” the colonel said, guessing how the contrast must affect Alice, who felt so desolate and homesick as she drew up in front of what, for a time at least, was to be her home. At a single glance she took in every peculiarity, from the mossy, decaying eaves, where the swallows were twittering their songs, to the group of negroes ranged upon the piazza, staring curiously at her as she alighted, followed by Densie Densmore. Where was Hugh? Surely he should be there to greet her, and with a return of something like the olden terror Alice looked nervously in all directions, as if expecting some vampyre to start out and seize her. But only Aunt Eunice, in trim white cap and black silk apron, appeared, welcoming the strangers with a motherly kindness, which went to Alice’s heart. Aunt Eunice saw that she looked very tired, and asked if she would not go at once to her room and lie down. Glad to be alone, Alice followed her through the hall and up the stairs to the pleasant chamber in which Hugh had been so interested. “You are tired and homesick, too, I guess,” Aunt Eunice said, “but you’ll get over it by and by. Spring Bank is a pleasant place, and if Hugh could he’d make it a handsome one. He has the taste.” “Where is Hugh?” Alice asked. Aunt Eunice would not say he had gone to Lexington for the sake, perhaps, of seeing her, so she replied, “He went to town this morning, but he’ll be back pretty soon. He has done his best to make it pleasant for you. _You’ll like Hugh._ There, try to go to sleep,” and kind Aunt Eunice bustled from the room just as Densie entered it, together with Aunt Chloe. The old negress was evidently playing the hostess to Densie, for she was talking quite loud, and all about “Mas’r Hugh.” “Pity he wasn’t thar, ’twould seem so different; ’tain’t de same house without him. _You’ll like Mas’r Hugh_,” and she, too glided from the room.