He was a stalwart, dark-haired, blue-eyed young man, comely in feature and of an honest, friendly expression; and although the robust young lady was as familiar with his appearance as one could be who had lived all her life next door, yet when her gaze swept from the swan to him, she looked a little startled, also a little amused. What thus surprised and amused her was the unusual magnificence of his attire. Upon occasion she had seen a high hat upon him and likewise a full-skirted long coat and a puffed scarf, but never spats until now; and never before had she seen him carry a cane. This was of shining ebony, with a gold top, and swung from a hand in a dove-coloured glove. Dove was the exquisite tint, too, of his spats. “Dan Oliphant!” she cried. “Why, my goodness!” At the sound of her voice his eye brightened;—he turned at once, left the cement path that led to his own gate and came across the frozen lawn to the partition fence not far from her. Still exclaiming, she went there to meet him. “My goodness gracious, Dan!” she cried, and shook hands with him between two rods of the iron fence. “What’s the matter, Martha?” he inquired. “I’m mighty glad to see you. I just got home from New York yesterday.” “I know you did,” she said. “I mean I see you did. I should _say_ so!” “What’s all the excitement?” She proved unable to reply otherwise than by continuing her exclamations. “Why, _Dan_!” she cried. “Dan _Oliphant_!” At that he seemed to feel there would be no readier way to solve the puzzle of her behaviour than to adopt her style himself. “_Martha!_” he exclaimed then, in amiable mockery of her. “Martha _Shelby_! Well, good gracious _me_!” “It’s the royal robes,” she explained. “I’m overcome. Your mother and father have been worrying about your staying so long in New York, but certainly they understand now what detained you.” “What do you think it was, Martha?” he asked, his colour heightening a little. “Why, you were learning to wear spats, of course, and how to carry a gold-headed cane. Is the President passing through town this afternoon?” “No. Why?” “I thought you might be one of a committee to meet him at the station and give him the keys of the city,” said Miss Shelby. “Or are you going to make a speech somewhere?” “No. I’m going to call on my grandmother.” “I hope dear old Mrs. Savage will be up to it. Would you like to have me walk with you as far as her gate? I’m going that way.” “You bet I’d like it!” Dan said heartily, and without exaggeration; for since this friendly next-door neighbour and he were children there had never been a time when he was not glad to see her or to be with her, walking or otherwise. She had always teased him mildly, now and then, but he bore it equably, not by any means displeased. Nor was he anything but pleased to-day, as they walked down the broad and quiet avenue together, rather slowly, and she resumed her mockery of his metropolitan splendours.