Her husband went up beside the motionless figure in the buckboard and held out his hand. "Glad to meet you, Ashton," he said with matter-of-fact heartiness. "Jenny wants you to come to her. We're not ready to start, as we were not certain we would be met." "Miss--Mrs. Blake wishes me to come!" mumbled Ashton. "Yes," said Blake, gripping the other's hesitatingly extended hand. Ashton flushed darkly. "But I--I can't leave the horses," he replied. Blake signed to the porter, who hastened forward. "Hold the lines for this gentleman, Sam." Ashton reluctantly gave the lines into the mulatto's sallow hands and stepped from the buckboard. His head hung forward as he followed Blake. But at the foot of the steps he removed his sombrero and forced himself to look up. Isobel was smiling down at him encouragingly. He looked from her to Mrs. Blake, his handsome face crimson with shame. "How do you do, Lafayette?" Mrs. Blake greeted him with quiet cordiality. "This is a pleasant surprise." "Yes--yes, indeed! I--yes, very!" he stammered, so embarrassed that he would have stuck at the foot of the steps had not Blake started him up with a vigorous boost. Mrs. Blake gave him her hand. "You look so strong and hearty!" she remarked. "It speaks well for the fare Miss Knowles provides." "Oh, that credit is due our Jap chef," laughed the girl. "I can cut out a cow from the herd better than I can bone a chop. But the butter and eggs and cream that are awaiting you--Which reminds me that we've yet to see It." "It?" asked Blake. "Yes, him--the _baby_!" "Oh, you dear girl!" cooed Mrs. Blake. "Come in and see him." Isobel followed her into the car. Blake nodded to Ashton. But the younger man shrank away from the door. "If you'll kindly excuse me," he muttered. "It would remind me too much of--the time when--No, I'd rather not." "Of course," assented Blake with ready understanding. "How do you like this country? I went through here once on a railway survey. It's rare good luck--this chance to visit Miss Knowles. Jenny is a little run down, as you see." "I shall trust that her visit to this locality will soon quite restore her," remarked Ashton. "It will. The doctors said Maine; I said Colorado. It has done you no end of good. You are looking particularly fine and fit." "It has helped me--in more ways than one," murmured Ashton. "Glad to hear you say it!" responded Blake in hearty approval. Ashton turned from him as Isobel appeared in the doorway, cuddling a lusty, rosy-cheeked baby. The mother hovered close behind her. "Look at him!" jeered Blake with heavily feigned derision. "Did you ever see such a big, fat, lubberly--" "Yes, look at him, Lafe," said the girl, stepping out into the vestibule. "He is only a yearling, but isn't he just the perfect image of his father?"