ie
reluctantly brought her book back.

"It is very early," objected the squire. "Really, the days have no
business to be so short."

"It would not seem like Christmas if they were long," said Mrs. Goddard.

"It does not seem like Christmas anyhow," remarked John, enigmatically.
No one understood his observation and no one paid any attention to it.
Whereupon John's previous feeling of annoyance returned and he went to
look for his greatcoat in the dark corner where he had laid it.

"You must not come all the way back with us," said Mrs. Goddard as they
all went out into the hall and began to put on their warm things before
the fire. "Really--it is late. Mr. Ambrose will give me his arm."

The squire insisted however, and Stamboul, who had had a comfortable nap
by the fire, was of the same opinion as his master and plunged wildly at
the door.

"Will you give me your arm, Mr. Ambrose?" said Mrs. Goddard, looking
rather timidly at the vicar as they stood upon the broad steps in the
sparkling evening air. She felt that she was disappointing both the
squire and John, but she had quite made up her mind. She had her own
reasons. The vicar, good man, was unconsciously a little flattered by her
choice, as with her hand resting on the sleeve of his greatcoat he led
the way down the park. The squire and John were fain to follow together,
but Nellie took her mother's hand, and Stamboul walked behind affecting
an unusual gravity.

"You must come again when there is more daylight," said Mr. Juxon to his
companion.

"Thank you," said John. "You are very good." He intended to relapse into
silence, but his instinct made him ashamed of seeming rude. "You have a
magnificent library," he added presently in a rather cold tone.

"You have been used to much better ones in Cambridge," said the squire,
modestly.

"Do you know Cambridge well, Mr. Juxon?"

"Very well. I am a Cambridge man, myself."

"Indeed?" exclaimed John, immediately discovering that the squire was not
so bad as he had thought. "Indeed! I had no idea. Mr. Ambrose never told
me that."

"I am not sure that he is aware of it," said Mr. Juxon quietly. "The
subject never happened to come up."

"How odd!" remarked John, who could not conceive of associating with a
man for any length of time without asking at what University he had
been.

"I don't know," answered Mr. Juxon. "There are lots of other things to
talk about."

"Oh--of course," said John, in a tone whi