Miss Schuyler was very doubtful as to whether the prospect afforded her any pleasure; but just then a grey-haired man, dressed immaculately in white shirt and city clothes, kissed her companion, and then, taking off his hat, handed her down from the platform with ceremonious courtesy. He had a grim, forceful face, with pride and command in it, and Miss Schuyler, who felt half afraid of him then, never quite overcame the feeling. She noticed, however, that he paid equal attention to the terrified maid. "It would be a duty to do our best for any of Hetty's friends who have been so kind to her in the city, but in this case it's going to be a privilege, too," he said. "Well, you will be tired, and they have a meal waiting you at the hotel. This place is a little noisy to-day, but we'll start on the first stage of your journey when you're ready." He gave Miss Schuyler his arm, and moved towards the thickest of the crowd, which, though apparently slightly hostile, made way for him. Here and there a man drove his fellows back, and one, catching up a loose plank, laid it down for the party to cross the rail switches on. Torrance turned to thank him, but the man swept his hat off with a laugh. "I wouldn't worry; it wasn't for you," he said. "It's a long while since we've seen anything so pretty as Miss Torrance and the other one." Flora Schuyler flushed a little, but Hetty turned to the speaker with a sparkle in her eyes. "Now," she said, "that was 'most worth a dollar, and if I didn't know what kind of man you were, I'd give it you. But what about Clarkson's Lou?" There was a laugh from the assembly, and the man appeared embarrassed. "Well," he said slowly, "she went off with Jo." Miss Torrance nodded sympathetically. "Still, if she knew no better than that, I wouldn't worry. Jo had a cast in his eye." The crowd laughed again, and Flora Schuyler glanced at her companion with some astonishment as she asked, "Do you always talk to them that way?" "Of course," said Hetty. "They're our boys--grown right here. Aren't they splendid?" Miss Schuyler once more appeared dubious, and made no answer; but she noticed that the man now preceded them, and raised his hand when they came up with the band, which had apparently halted to indulge in retort or badinage with some of those who followed them. "Hold on a few minutes, boys, and down with that flag," he said. Then a tawdry banner was lowered suddenly between two poles, but not before Miss Torrance had seen part of the blazoned legend. Its unvarnished forcefulness brought a flush to her companion's cheek. "Dad," she asked more gravely, "what is it all about?" Torrance laughed a little. "That," he said, "is a tolerably big question. It would take quite a long while to answer it."