"It's pretty enough," he admitted, "but this isn't the season to see it
at its best; you ought to come here in the spring."

"It's perfect just as it is," declared Marjorie. "I've read about such
places, but never expected to see one myself. Is that river really the
James, and did your great-grandfather truly live in this very house?"

"He most certainly did," said Beverly, laughing; "my people have lived
here for over a hundred years. You should have heard some of my father's
war stories. He was only a boy at the time of the war, but he had some
exciting experiences. When I was a little chap I used to wish I had been
alive then, too."

"Oh, I love war stories!" cried Marjorie, rapturously; "are there any
people here now who can tell them?"

"Yes, indeed, plenty. I'll introduce you to old Uncle Josh. He was my
grandfather's body servant, and went all through the war with him. He's
over seventy now, and doesn't work any more, but he and his wife live in
a cabin down at the quarters."

"It all sounds just like a story-book," said Marjorie, with a little
sigh of utter content. "I should think you would be tremendously proud
of your home."

"I like it all right," said Beverly, "but now hadn't you better come in
and have some breakfast? I hear Mother and Uncle George in the
dining-room, and I should think you'd be hungry, for it's after nine,
and you were up before six."

"Of course I was," laughed Marjorie; "I was much too excited to sleep. I
wasn't going to miss the first sight of Virginia."

The dining-room at Randolph Place was very large, and the walls were
lined with portraits. Marjorie was so much interested in the portraits
of great-grandfather and great-grandmother Randolph, that she came near
forgetting to eat her breakfast, although the fried eggs and bacon, and
waffles with maple syrup, were certainly the most delicious she had ever
tasted. Mrs. Randolph and the doctor watched her with kindly amusement.
Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, and there was a bright color in
her cheeks; she seemed quite a different creature from the pale, subdued
girl of a week before.

"I declare, Barbara, I had no idea that little girl was so pretty," Dr.
Randolph remarked in a low tone to his sister-in-law, when Marjorie and
Beverly were in the midst of an animated discussion about Captain John
Smith and Pocahontas.

"She is charming," Mrs. Randolph answered, smiling. "It is strange how
much environment has to d