id. Her place is one of the finest in town."

Serena bowed. Life, for her, had not offered many sweeter moments than
this.

"Yes," she said, calmly, "so we understand. The place--er--that is, the
estate--is a PART--" she emphasized the word--"a PART of what she left
to my husband."

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Mr. Black. His wife said nothing, but her face
was a study.

Captain Dan crossed his knees.

"I remember seein' that place after Uncle Jim first built it," he
observed, reminiscently. "I tell you it looked big enough to me! I was
only a young feller, just begun goin' to sea, and that house looked big
as a town hall, you might say. Ho! ho! when I got inside and was sittin'
in the front parlor, I declare I was all feet and hands! didn't know
what to do with 'em.... Hey? did you speak, Serena?"

"I was only going to say," replied his wife, "that that was a good while
ago, of course. You have been about the world and seen a great deal
since. Things look different after we grow up, don't they, Mrs. Black?"

Annette's composure, a portion of it, had returned by this time.
Nevertheless, there was an odd note in her voice.

"They do, indeed," she said. "I remember the Dott house, of course. It
was very fine, I believe, in its day."

Her husband interrupted. "In its day!" he repeated. "Humph! there's
nothing the matter with it now, that I can see. I wish I had as good.
Why--"

"Phelps!" snapped Annette, "don't be silly. Mrs. Dott understands what
I meant to say. The place is very nice, very attractive, indeed. Perhaps
some might think it a bit old-fashioned, but that is a matter of taste."

"Humph! it's on the best street in town. As for being old-fashioned--I
thought you just said you loved old-fashioned things. That's what she
said, wasn't it, Dan?"

Mrs. Black's gloved fingers twitched, but she ignored the remark
entirely. Daniel, too, did not answer, although he smiled in an
uncertain fashion. It was Serena who spoke.

"I haven't any doubt it is lovely," she said. "We're just dying to see
it, Daniel and I. I hope you can be with us when we do, Mrs. Black. You
might suggest some improvements, you know."

"Improvements!" the visitor repeated the word involuntarily.
"Improvements! You're not going to LIVE there, are you?"

"I don't know. We may. Now, Daniel, don't argue. You know we haven't
made up our minds yet what we shall do. And Scarford is a beautiful
city. Mrs. Black has told us so ever so many time