hermit!" said the
girl. "He must be near. Once I succeeded in discovering him, and I sat
so quietly he didn't mind me, even if he saw. He was on the very
topmost twig of a pine, so little and so brown against the vast blue.
Uncle Calvin, I'm so glad you bought the Mill Farm!"

"Well, so am I," replied the judge.

"Some time," said Sylvia, "when you get very--unexpectedly--rich, I
wish you'd buy the Tide Mill."

"You do?" grunted the lawyer. "What for, pray? Want to see a bonfire on
the water?"

"Oh, dear, no!" Sylvia glanced around at Dunham. "Wouldn't it be
tragic, after all its troubles, to see it burned at the stake?"

"She wants to tie blue ribbons around its neck and chuck it under the
chin," explained John.

"Ah, I see," said the judge, smiling grimly as he remembered Sylvia's
comments on the mill the first day he met her.

"There's Thinkright," cried Sylvia, suddenly breaking from her
companions and running fleetly toward the house.

With one accord the two men watched her greet the third by kissing him
first on one cheek and then on the other.

"It was only one of yours, Judge," said Dunham. "If I were you I'd call
him out."

"I don't grudge it to him," returned the lawyer. "She's making up to
him for her mother's lack."

He waited a moment, hoping John would continue on the subject. He had
thought often of his niece since his last visit, and in the past days
had heard only good words for her; but Thinkright might be expected to
be partial to Laura's child, and the Fosters were scarcely judges. He
wished very much to learn the opinion of the girl which would be formed
by a man of John's world and experience. Dunham kept silent as they
pursued their measured walk, and the judge's desire forced the
question.

"Well, and how do you find Miss Lacey, now you've had a near view?"

"Oh--Miss Lacey. Yes. Brisk and busy as a little bumblebee. The round
peg in the round hole, as you might say."

"H'm," returned the judge. "I'm interested to know how she strikes a
man of your sort."

"She's all right, I tell you," returned John argumentatively. "You
don't know a good thing when you see it, Judge. Domestic, capable,
executive, cheerful,"--John warmed to his subject. His heart had been
made soft to-day, and he remembered the row of inappropriate poplars.

"Domestic? That's a pleasant surprise. But how about manners and
breeding? I'm aware that what might pass muster with me might look very
different un