"Hey? Why?" he repeated. "Oh, I don't know. So many things have
happened, I guess."

"What kind of things?"

"All kinds. But there--tell me about yourself. How's college? And how's
John? Land sakes! I ain't said a word about John, and he's about as
important as anything on earth just now, or he ought to be. Guess you
think I'm a selfish old pig, not to ask about him before this. How is
he?"

"You couldn't be selfish if you tried, Daddy. You never knew how to be.
John is well and very busy. He sent his love to you and Mother, and he
hopes to run down here before very long and spend a few days with us."

"Does, hey? That's good. I suppose YOU don't hope he'll come. Ha! ha!
no, of course not. He's doin' all the hopin'."

"Well, perhaps not all. But there, Daddy, don't waste time talking of
John or me. I want to hear about you and about Mother, and how you like
living in Scarford."

"Why, I wrote you all about that."

"Yes, I know you did, but I want to hear more, lots more. And I want
to see the house. Just think, I haven't seen it at all. Now, Daddy, you
must show me all the rooms right away. We can talk as we go. Come on."

She led the way and Daniel followed. The house was shown from top to
bottom. Gertrude asked many questions, the majority of which seemed
to have little to do with the new establishment and more with the life
which her parents had spent in it. Captain Dan answered these questions
in the intervals between rooms, and his answers were less guarded than
they might have been under different circumstances. At length the young
lady ceased to question, and the tour of inspection was finished in
silence on her part.

When they returned to the library, the captain, who had been waiting for
some expression of approval from his daughter, suddenly blurted out:

"Well, why don't you say somethin', Gertie? Don't you like it?"

Gertrude, seated in the easy chair, her elbow resting on the chair arm
and her chin supported by her hand, answered promptly.

"No," she said, "I don't like it at all."

"What! Don't LIKE it? Don't like this house? Well, for mercy sakes!"

"Oh, not the house; I like that well enough. I liked our old one quite
as well--but never mind that now. The house is all right. It is the rest
of it that is all wrong. I don't like that."

"The rest of it? What do you mean?"

Gertrude did not answer. Instead she raised her head and looked at him.
It was a long look and a steady one, and th