level." Saturday morning dawned clear and bracing, and the grass was white with hoar-frost. The children came in to breakfast with glowing cheeks and hair awry, crying excitedly in the same breath that they "had been to the chestnut trees and that Jack had opened the burrs all night." In answer to their clamorous petitions a one-o'clock dinner was promised, and Aunt Annie was to accompany them on a nutting expedition with Jeff as pioneer to thresh and club the trees. "Can I go too?" Gregory asked of the children. "I suppose so," said Johnny, rather coldly; "if Aunt Annie is willing." "You can go with me," said kind-hearted little Susie. "Now I can go whether Aunt Annie is willing or not," said Gregory, with mock defiance at the boy. He glanced at his aunt's face to gather how he should take this, but she settled the matter satisfactorily to him by saying, "You shall be my beau, and Mr. Gregory will be Susie's." "Good, good!" exclaimed Susie. "I've got a beau already;" and she beamed upon Gregory in a way that made them all laugh. "'Coming events cast their shadows before,' you perceive, Miss Walton," said he, meaningly. "Sometimes the events themselves are but shadows," she replied, dryly. "Now that is severe upon the beaux. How about the belles?" he asked, quickly. "I have nothing to say against my own sex, sir." "That is not fair. Of course I can say nothing adverse." "If you should say what you think, I fear we should be little inclined to cry with Shylock, 'A Daniel come to judgment!'" "You have a dreadful opinion of me, Miss Walton. I wish you would teach me how I can change it." "You discovered so much in a chestnut burr the day you came I should not be surprised if you could find anything else there that you wish to know." "I shall not look in burrs for chestnuts this afternoon, but for something else far more important." Gregory spent the forenoon quietly in his own room reading, in order that he might have all the vigor possible for the ramble. And to Annie, as housekeeper, Saturday morning brought many duties. By two o'clock the nutting expedition was organized, and with Jeff in advance, carrying a short ladder and a long limber pole, the party started for the hills. At first Johnny, oppressed with his dignity as Aunt Annie's "beau," stalked soberly at her side, and Susie also claimed Gregory according to agreement, and insisted on keeping hold of his hand. He submitted with such grace as he could muster, for children were tiresome to him, and he wanted to talk to Miss Walton, without "little pitchers with large ears" around.