was in the
centre, and a passage from it to the back of the dwelling divided it
into two rooms. One of these was sub-divided by a thin partition,
the inner room being Mrs. Varley's bedroom, the outer Dick's. Daniel
Hood's dormitory was a corner of the kitchen, which apartment served
also as a parlour.

The rooms were lighted by two windows, one on each side of the door,
which gave to the house the appearance of having a nose and two eyes.
Houses of this kind have literally got a sort of _expression_ on--if
we may use the word--their countenances. _Square_ windows give the
appearance of easy-going placidity; _longish_ ones, that of surprise.
Mrs. Varley's was a surprise cottage; and this was in keeping with the
scene in which it stood, for the clear lake in front, studded
with islands, and the distant hills beyond, composed a scene so
surprisingly beautiful that it never failed to call forth an
expression of astonished admiration from every new visitor to the
Mustang Valley.

"My boy," exclaimed Mrs. Varley, as her son entered the cottage with a
bound, "why so hurried to-day? Deary me! where got you the grand gun?"

"Won it, mother!"

"Won it, my son?"

"Ay, won it, mother. Druve the nail _almost_, and would ha' druve it
_altogether_ had I bin more used to Joe Blunt's rifle."

Mrs. Varley's heart beat high, and her face flushed with pride as she
gazed at her son, who laid the rifle on the table for her inspection,
while he rattled off an animated and somewhat disjointed account of
the match.

"Deary me! now that was good, that was cliver. But what's that
scraping at the door?"

"Oh! that's Fan; I forgot her. Here! here! Fan! Come in, good dog," he
cried, rising and opening the door.

Fan entered and stopped short, evidently uncomfortable.

"My boy, what do ye with the major's dog?"

"Won her too, mother!"

"Won her, my son?"

"Ay, won her, and the pup too; see, here it is!" and he plucked Crusoe
from his bosom.

Crusoe having found his position to be one of great comfort had fallen
into a profound slumber, and on being thus unceremoniously awakened he
gave forth a yelp of discontent that brought Fan in a state of frantic
sympathy to his side.

"There you are, Fan; take it to a corner and make yourself at
home.--Ay, that's right, mother, give her somethin' to eat; she's
hungry, I know by the look o' her eye."

"Deary me, Dick!" said Mrs. Varley, who now proceeded to spread the
youth's mid-day meal