"On merely general grounds; but you see I am open to all evidence in your favor. City life no doubt has great advantages, but it also has greater drawbacks." "What are they?" "I cannot think of them all now. Suffice it to say that if you had always lived in the city you could not have interpreted a chestnut burr so gracefully. Many there seem to forget Nature's lore." "But may they not learn other things more valuable?" Miss Walton shook her head, and said, with a laugh: "An ignorant exhorter once stated to his little schoolhouse audience that Paul was brought up at the foot of the hill Gamaliel. I almost wish he were right, for I should have had more confidence in the teachings of the hill than in those of the narrow-minded Jewish Rabbi." "And yet you regard Paul as the very chief of the apostles." "He became such after he was taught of Him who teaches through the hills and nature generally." "My daughter is an enthusiast for nature," remarked Mr. Walton. "If the people are the same as when I was here a boy, the hills have not taught the majority very much," said Gregory, with a French shrug. "Many of them have a better wisdom than you think," answered Annie, quietly. "In what does it consist?" "Well, for one thing they know how to enjoy life and add to the enjoyment of others." Gregory looked at her keenly for a moment, but saw nothing to lead him to think that she was speaking on other than general principles; but he said, a little moodily, as they rose from the table, "That certainly is a better wisdom than is usually attained in either city or country." "It is not our custom to make company of our friends," said Mr. Walton, cordially. "We hope you will feel completely at home, and come and go as you like, and do just what you find agreeable. We dine at two, and have an early supper on account of the children. There are one or two fair saddle horses on the place, but if you do not feel strong enough to ride, Annie can drive you out, and I assure you she is at home in the management of a horse." "Yes, indeed," echoed the little boy. "Aunt Annie can manage anything or anybody." "That is a remarkable power," said Gregory, with an amused look and a side glance at the young girl. "How does she do it?" "Oh, I don't know," replied the boy; "she makes them love her, and then they want to do as she says." A momentary wrathful gleam shot from Annie's eyes at her indiscreet little champion, but with heightened color she joined in the laugh that followed. Gregory had the ill grace to say with a sort of mocking gallantry, as he bowed himself out, "It must be delightful to be managed on such terms." CHAPTER V WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?