"Lord, Molly!" he said, a moment later, having started at suddenly beholding her. "I thought you were a ghost! It's time to get supper, I think, from the look of the day outside. I'll have to make a light." From a closet in the side of the staircase he took a candle, flint, and tinder, talking the while to Molly, as she rubbed the balusters. Having produced a tiny candle-flame that did not light up half the hall, Williams started towards the dining-room, but stopped at a distant sound of galloping horses, which were evidently coming down the Albany road. The steward and the maid exchanged conjectures as to whether this meant a British patrol or "Rebel" dragoons, "Skinners" or Hessian yagers, Highlanders, or Loyalist light horse; and then observed from the sound that the horses had turned aside into the Mile Square road. But now came a new sound of horses, and though it was of only a few, and those walking, it gave Williams quite a start, for the footfalls were manifestly approaching the mansion. They as manifestly stopped before that very hill. And then came a sharp knock on the mahogany door. "See who it is," whispered Molly. Williams hesitated. The knock was repeated. "Who's there?" called out Williams. There was an answer, but the words could not be made out. "Who?" repeated Williams. This time the answer was clear enough. "It's I, Williams! Don't keep me standing here in the wind all night." "It's Miss Elizabeth!" cried Molly; and Williams, in a kind of daze of astonishment, hastily unlocked, unbolted, and threw open the door. CHAPTER III. THE SOUND OF GALLOPING. A rush of wind came in from the outer gloom and almost blew out the candle. Williams held up his hand to protect the flame and stepped aside from before the doorway. The wind was promptly followed by Elizabeth, who strode in with the air that a king might show on reentering one of his palaces, still holding her whip in her gloved hand. Behind her came Colden, the picture of moody dejection. When Cuff had entered with the portmanteaus, Williams, seeing but three horses without, closed the door, locked it, and looked with inquiry and bewilderment at Elizabeth. "Br-r-r-r!" she ejaculated. "Light up my chamber, Molly, and have a fire in it; then make some hot tea, and get me something to eat." Elizabeth's impetuosity sent the open-mouthed maid flying up-stairs to execute the first part of the order, whereupon the mistress turned to the wondering steward. "I've come to spend a week at the manor-house, Williams. Cuff, take those to my room." The black boy, with the portmanteaus, followed in the way Molly had taken, but with less rapidity. By this time Williams had recovered somewhat from his surprise, and regained his voice and something of his stewardly manner. "I scarcely expected any of the family out from New York these times, miss. There----"