Brown burst forth to the astonished stableman:

"'Does he kick, roll, rear, bite, or shy? Tell me quick, for I know he
must do some of them.'

"We did have our drive though, and an adventure too, for we were caught
in the rain, and entered a barn where a handsome young man acted the
part of host, and generously bestowed hay upon our horse."

_August 16_.

A telegram last night from Marguerite, saying, "Will come on the early
train with the Honorable Francis"--a very pleasant surprise, for,
knowing the habits of that gentleman, we had supposed him to be, if not
at the Antipodes, at least in Europe; accordingly, we went down to meet
the train in quite a flutter of excitement.

Mr. Colton is "honorable" from having represented his government for
four years at Venice. In appearance he is tall and swarthy, with a
foreign and picturesque cast of features not unlike the Italian type: a
"lovely brigand" we sometimes call him. Notwithstanding his easy and
somewhat nonchalant air, he is a true American in his active and
restless disposition and his love for travelling. I would be afraid to
state the number of miles he has travelled since we made his
acquaintance in Paris four years ago, and I have known him to start at
forty-eight hours' notice to make a tour of the world.

Mr. Colton made us a visit of two days, and was sufficiently
enthusiastic over dear Chappaqua to satisfy even our exacting demands.

We had some sport over the probable speculations of the telegraph
operators concerning our visitor. Out of mischief, Marguerite had
mentioned him in her telegram merely as "the Honorable Francis;" for so
deep an interest is taken in the messages we receive and send, that we
enjoy puzzling the operators a little; indeed, we may say that our
telegrams are common property here, for seldom do we receive them until
they have been carefully read by the telegraph and railroad officials,
and then handed to any interested outsider who may chance to be in the
office. I will give a little scene that occurred not long ago, by way
of illustration.

Our friend Mr. A---- alights from the morning train, and is welcomed by
a friend of his who is stopping for a week or so in Chappaqua.

"Delighted to see you, A----. Knew you were coming up this morning, so
thought I would run down to the train and meet you."

"How in the world did you know I was coming, my dear fellow?" inquires
the astonished A----. "You don't know Mrs. Clev