When the windings of their walk brought them around home again, Dick proposed a drive through the forest to Hammond House to see the progress of the works there that must, he thought, be now near their completion. And as all assented to the proposition, the General ordered the large six-seated family carriage; and the whole party, including little Leonard and his nurse, started for a long drive through the summer woods to Hammond House. It was but twelve o’clock noon when they reached the house—an old mansion standing upon a high headland at the junction of Wild River with the Upper Potomac. The woods grew up to the very garden wall and clustered thick about it. There were mountain brooks in the neighborhood, running down to the Wild River and swelling its stream before it fell into the Potomac. The trout fisheries there were considered very fine in their season. And it was a part of the family programme for coming years to spend the fishing season at Hammond. It was now the beginning of the trout fishing season, and so the General and Dick, having seen Drusilla and Anna safely in the house, procured fishing tackle from Byles, the overseer, and went down to one of the bright, gravelly-bedded streams to fish. Anna and Drusilla, with the babe and nurse, were taken by Mrs. Byles to a clean and airy bedroom, where they laid off their bonnets and sat down to rest. The house was not yet in order; nor could it be said to be in disorder—the papering, painting, glazing and gilding were all completed; but the handsome new furniture remained in its packing cases, and encumbered halls and passages. Overseer Byles and his wife occupied rooms in a wing of the building during the progress of the repairs; but they were to move to a neighboring cottage as soon as the house should be ready to receive the family. Our party spent a very pleasant day at Hammond House. Drusilla and Anna, with the baby and the nurse, wandered about the grounds and along the banks of the river until they were tired, and then they sat down under the trees to rest and to talk. About two o’clock General Lyon and Dick returned from the trout stream well laden with spoil. They gave the fish to Mrs. Byles, with a request that she would have them dressed for their dinner, and have the table set out in the open air between three broad oak trees where the shade was thickest. At four o’clock they were called to dinner—a sylvan repast served _al fresco_. There were trout, roast lamb with mint sauce, and green peas, potatoes and lettuce, and for dessert cherries, strawberries and ice-cream. That was all. “But if I had known in time that you were coming, ladies and gentlemen, I would have got up something more acceptable,” said the housekeeper, apologetically. “I defy you to have done that, Mrs. Byles. Your dinner is excellent,” replied the General. And all the other members of the party agreed with him, and proved their sincerity upon the edibles set before them.