ay buy an ancestor for a song, or at least the portrait of one, and
silver with armorial bearings, and no one will know if you do not tell
them that your heirlooms have come from a shop.

And Alexandria, as all the world knows, is reached from Washington by
motor and trolley, train or ferry.

It was by ferry that the lovers preferred to go in the glory of this May
morning, feeling the breeze fresh in their faces as with a motley crowd
they stood on the lower deck and looked towards the old town.

Thus they came to the wharves, flanked by ancient warehouses in a
straggly row along the water line. The windows of these ancient edifices
had looked down on Revolutionary heroes, the old brick walls had echoed
to the sound of fife and drum--the old streets had once been thronged by
men in blue and buff. Since those days the quaint little city had basked
in the pride of her traditions. She had tolerated nothing modern until
within this very year she had waked to find that her red-coat enemy was
now her friend, that the roads which George Washington had travelled were
being trod once more by marching men; that in the church where he had
worshipped prayers were being said once more for men in battle.

And into the shops, with their storied antiques, drifted now men in
olive-drab and men in blue, and men in forester's green, who laughed at
the flint locks and powder horns, saluted the Father of his Country
whenever they passed his picture, gazed with reverence on ancient swords
and uniforms, dickered for such small articles as might be bought out of
their limited allowances, and paid in the end, cheerfully, prices which
would have been scorned by any discriminating buyer.

"There must be a table for the Log-Fire Room," Jean told her husband,
"and a fire-bench, not too high, and a big chair for you, and another
chair for me--"

"And a stool for your little feet--."

"And a desk for you, Derry."

"And an oval mirror with a gold frame, for me to see your face in,
Jean-Joan--"

Then there was a four-poster bed with pineapples, and an Adams screen, an
old brass-bound chest, the most adorable things in Sheffield and crystal,
and to crown it all, a picture of George Washington--a print, faintly
colored, with the country's coat of arms carved on the frame.

Yet not one thing did they buy except a quite sumptuous and splendid
marriage coffer which suggested itself at once as the only wedding
present for Emily.

The price to