ay, come away, gentlemen!"

Federalists and Republicans exchanged the stiffest of bows, and the
party for Fontenoy mounted and took the road. The Republicans whom they
left behind had a few moments of laughter and jubilation, and then they
also quitted the Court House yard and called to the servants for the
horses.

"You'll spend the night at Edgehill, I hope, Mr. Rand?" cried one. "Mrs.
Randolph expects you--she will wish to write to her father of your
day--"

"No, no, come with me!" put in another. "There's all this business to
talk over--and I've a letter to show you from Mr. Madison--"

"Best come to the Eagle!" cried a third. "No end of jolly fellows, and
bumpers to next year--"

Rand shook his head. "Thank you, Colonel Randolph--but I am riding to
Monticello. Mr. Jefferson has written for some papers from the library.
Burwell will care for me to-night. Present, if you will, my humble
services to Mrs. Randolph and the young ladies. By the same token I
cannot go with you, Mr. Carr, nor to the Eagle, Mr. Jones.--My grateful
thanks to you, one and all, gentlemen! I am a plain man--I can say no
more. We will ride together as far as the creek."

The negro Joab brought his horse, a magnificent animal, the gift of
Jefferson. He mounted and the party kept together as far as the creek,
where their ways parted. Rand checked his horse, said good-bye, and
watched the gentlemen who had given him their support ride cheerfully
away toward the light of home. He himself was waiting for Adam
Gaudylock, who was going with him to Monticello. After a moment's
thought he decided not to wait there beside the creek, but to turn his
horse and leave a message for Tom Mocket at a house which he had passed
five minutes before.

CHAPTER V

MONTICELLO

The house, a low frame one, stood back from the road, in a tangle of
old, old flowering shrubs. Rand drew rein before the broken gate, and a
young woman in a linsey gown rose from the porch step and came down the
narrow path toward him. She carried an earthenware pitcher and cup.
"It's water just from the well," she said, "fresh and cool. Won't you
have some?"

"Yes, I will," answered Rand. "Vinie, why don't you mend that gate?"

"I don't know, thir," said Vinie. "Tom's always going to."

Rand laughed. "Don't call me 'thir'! Vinie, I'm elected."

Vinie set down her pitcher beside a clump of white phlox and wiped her
hands on the skirt of her linsey dress. "Are you going a