am very glad to see you, I am sure," said Clover, taking the first
opportunity of a break in the torrent of words, "and Mrs. Phillips
too,--this is Mrs. Phillips, is it not? Let me help you out, Mrs.
Watson, and Geoffy dear, run round to the other door and ask Euphane to
send somebody to take the horses."

"Thank you," said Mrs. Phillips. "Let me introduce my husband, Mrs.
Templestowe. We are at the hotel in the Ute Valley for three days, and
my mother wished so much to drive over and see you that we have brought
her. What a beautiful place your valley is!"

Mrs. Phillips, tall, large-featured, dark and rather angular, with a
pleasant, resolute face, and clear-cut, rather incisive way of speaking,
offered as complete a contrast to her pale, pudgy, incoherent little
mother as could well be imagined. Clover's instant thought was, "Now I
know what _Mr._ Watson must have been like." Mr. Phillips was also tall,
with a keen, Roman-nosed face, and eye-glasses. Both had the look of
people who knew what was what and had seen the world,--just the sort of
persons, it would seem, to whom a parent like Mrs. Watson would be a
great trial; and it was the more to their credit that they never seemed
in the least impatient, and were evidently devoted to her comfort in all
ways. If she fretted them, as she undoubtedly must, they gave no sign of
it, and were outwardly all affectionate consideration.

"Why, where is your little boy gone? I wanted to see him," said Mrs.
Watson, as soon as she was safely out of the carriage. "He was here just
this moment, and then--I must say you have got a beautiful situation;
and if mountains were all that one needed to satisfy--but I recollect
how you used to go on about them at St. Helen's-- Take care, Ellen, your
skirt is caught! Ah, that's right! Miss Carr is always so--but I mustn't
call her that, I know, only I never-- And now, my dear, I must have a
kiss, after climbing up all this way; and there were gopher holes--at
least, a man we met said they were that, and I really thought-- Tell me
how you are, and all about-- That's right, Henry, take out the wraps;
you never can tell how-- Of course Miss Carr's people are all-- I keep
calling you Miss Carr; I really can't help it. What a beautiful view!"

Clover now led the way in-doors. The central room, large, cool, and
flower-scented, was a surprise to the Eastern guests, who were not
prepared to find anything so pretty and tasteful in so remote a spot.