orning Adriana was on the
watch for her friend. And about noon Rose came. She was driving
herself in a pretty dog-cart, for she had determined as she dressed
for her visit, to take no servant. She did not know what kind of a
house Adriana lived in, or in what situation she might find her. For
Rose's experience of life had not given her any precedent by which she
could judge of the social environments of a stone-builder; and she
said softly as she pinned on her hat: "Yes, I shall go alone. It will
be kinder to Yanna. Servants will talk. They might even wonder if she
is not one of our relations; these Woodsome people have made such a
stir about our being 'native.'"

She drove well, and was charmed and excited by her rapid movement down
the hills, and through the wooded lanes. Entering the village, she
asked for Mr. Van Hoosen's house, and it was readily pointed out. She
was a little astonished. It was a roomy, colonial dwelling, surrounded
by well-kept grounds. Horse-chestnuts arched the wide avenues, and the
house stood in a grove of flowering fruit trees. A boy who was rolling
turf took her horse's head, and she stepped to the spotless door
stone, with a decided access of affection. Adriana came running down
the stairs to meet her. They kissed each other, and buried in the kiss
all their small differences and offences.

"What a charming old house, Yanna!" cried Rose.

"What a perfect costume you have on, Rose!" cried Adriana.

"I knew you would like it. Put on your hat, Yanna. I want you all day,
and all day to-morrow, and every other day you can spare."

"I must tell father. I shall be delighted to go with you, Rose; but I
cannot do so without his knowledge."

"Certainly. I saw an old gentleman tacking up vines, as I drove
through the garden."

"That was father."

"You can find him in two minutes and a half, I know."

In very little more, Adriana came back with the old gentleman. He
looked so kindly at Rose that she could not help being pleased, and
she set herself to win the old Dutchman. She made him talk about his
flowers, and she listened with that air of being charmed and
instructed which even when it is merely a cultivated grace is an
irresistible one. She praised Yanna. She said with a frank enthusiasm,
"I love Yanna dearly," and while entreating for her company she
acknowledged "it was a great favor to ask."

Peter said "it was." He assured Rose that Yanna "was the sunshine of
his life, but that to