impetuous flutter she threw her arms about the necks of the old horses.
"Why, you dear things!" she cried; then she held out her hand to
Sampson. "I'm glad to see you, Sampson," she said. "But why didn't papa
come to meet me?"

Her animated eyes glanced joyously from side to side and her lips were
brimming with the delight of homecoming.

Sampson turned the wheel for her as she got into the carriage, and gave
her the linen lap-robe.

"You sho is growed, Miss Eugeny," he observed, and then in reply to her
question, "Marse Tom hev got pow'ful stiff-jinted recentelly. Hit seems
like he'd ruther sot right still den ease hisse'f outer his cheer. Sence
Ole Miss Grissel done drop down dead uv er political stroke, he ain'
step 'roun' mo'n he bleeged ter."

The carriage jolted through Kingsborough, and Eugenia bowed smilingly to
her acquaintances. Once she stopped to shake hands with the rector and
again to kiss Sally Burwell, who flew into her arms.

"Why, Eugie! you--you beauty!" she cried. Eugenia laughed delightedly,
her black eyes glowing.

"Am I good-looking?" she asked. "I'm so glad. But I'll never be as
pretty as you, you dear, sweet thing. I'm too big."

They laughed and kissed again, and Eugenia stepped from the carriage to
greet the judge, who was passing.

"This is a sight for sore eyes, my dear," said the judge, his fine old
face wreathed in smiles. Then, as his gaze ran over her full, straight
figure, "they make fine women these days," he added. "You're as tall as
your father--though you're your mother's child. Yes, I can see Amelia
Tucker in your eyes."

"Thank you--thank you," said the girl in a throaty voice. There was a
glow, a warmth, a fervour in her face which harmonised the chill black
and white of her colouring. Her expression was as a lamp to illumine the
mask of her features.

"I couldn't stay away," she went on breathlessly. "I love Kingsborough
better than the whole world."

"And Kingsborough loves you," returned the judge. "Yes, it is a good old
town and well worth dying in, after all."

He assisted Eugenia into the carriage, shook hands again, and the
lumbering old vehicle jogged on its way. In a moment another halt was
called, and Mrs. Webb came from her gate to give the girl welcome.

"This is a surprise," she said as she kissed her. "I dined at Battle
Hall last week, and they didn't tell me you were coming."

"They didn't know it," laughed Eugenia. "I come like a bolt from the