"Well, it's a little better than if he had come while we were in the old yellow house. We've a nice porch here, and a front yard shaded with grand old oaks; and no neighbors near enough to watch every movement." "A good many conveniences, too," added her mother, cheerily, "and a beautiful view of river and town. I think, too, that we can manage to give him a room to himself, and to feed him well, with the help of Rupert's garden, the cow and the chickens." The expectation of this visit was a real blessing to the family; to Mrs. Keith and Mildred in especial--just at this time; giving occupation to their thoughts as well as hands, in the necessary preparation for the proper accommodation and entertainment of the coming guest; thus preventing much of the sadness the loss of Miss Stanhope's loved society would have caused them. The next arrival of the semi-weekly stage brought Horace Dinsmore, his servant and luggage to their door. Mr. Dinsmore was a dark-eyed, handsome youth of distinguished appearance and with the air of a prince of the blood royal; yet evidently a kind master; for his man John, a spruce young negro, seemed to take the greatest pride and pleasure in waiting upon "Massa Horace" and anticipating his every wish. While warmly welcoming her young relative, Mrs. Keith was somewhat dismayed at the unexpected sight of the servant--house room being so scarce; but the difficulty was obviated by placing a cot-bed in the empty loft of the newly erected stable at the foot of the garden. "How very thoughtless and selfish in Cousin Horace to bring that fellow along," Mildred said to her mother. "No, my dear, not when we consider that they have always been together and neither would know very well how to do without the other. I was the thoughtless one not to remember that and expect John." "Always together, mother?" "Yes; they are nearly the same age--John a few months older than his young master--and were playfellows in infancy. "John's mother was Horace's 'mammy' as the children down south call their nurses; and I think loved her white nursling even better than her own children. "John's affection for Horace is probably as great, and it would come near breaking his heart to be separated from him." Horace Dinsmore had paid a visit to Lansdale the year before the removal of the Keiths to Indiana. The impression he had then made upon his young cousins was not at all favorable; he was silent, morose and seemed to take little or no interest in anybody or anything. "He is not like himself," Mrs. Keith had said to Aunt Wealthy again and again; "he is in trouble, some great sorrow has come to him." But they did not succeed in winning his confidence; he rejected their sympathy, locked up his secret in his own bosom, and left them as sad and moody as when he came.