urricane,
driving his ward in before him to the dining-room, where the dinner was
smoking upon the table.

After dinner Cap, with Wool for a riding-master, took her first lesson
in equestrianism. She had the four great requisites for forming a good
rider--a well-adapted figure, a fondness for the exercise, perfect
fearlessness and presence of mind. She was not once in danger of losing
her seat, and during that single afternoon's exercise she made
considerable progress in learning to manage her steed.

Old Hurricane, whom the genial autumn afternoon had tempted out to smoke
his pipe in his armchair on the porch, was a pleased spectator of her
performances, and expressed his opinion that in time she would become
the best rider in the neighborhood, and that she should have the best
riding-dress and cap that could be made at Tip Top.

Just now, in lack of an equestrian dress, poor Cap was parading around
the lawn with her head bare and her hair flying and her merino skirt
exhibiting more ankles than grace.

It was while Old Hurricane still sat smoking his pipe and making his
comments and Capitola still ambled around and around the lawn that a
horseman suddenly appeared galloping as fast as the steep nature of the
ground would admit up toward the house, and before they could form an
idea who he was the horse was at the block, and the rider dismounted and
standing before Major Warfield.

"Why, Herbert, my boy, back so soon? We didn't expect you for a week to
come. This is sudden, indeed! So much the better! so much the better!
Glad to see you, lad!" exclaimed Old Hurricane, getting up and heartily
shaking the hand of his nephew.

Capitola came ambling up, and in the effort to spring nimbly from her
saddle tumbled off, much to the delight of Wool, who grinned from ear to
ear, and of Old Hurricane, who, with an "I said so," burst into a roar
of laughter.

Herbert Greyson sprang to assist her; but before he reached the spot Cap
had picked herself up, straightened her disordered dress, and now she
ran to meet and shake hands with him.

There was such a sparkle of joy and glow of affection in the meeting
between these two that Old Hurricane, who saw it, suddenly hushed his
laugh and grunted to himself:

"Humph! humph! humph! I like that; that's better than I could have
planned myself; let that go on, and then, Gabe Le Noir, we'll see under
what name and head the old divided manor will be held!"

Before his mental soli