Presently from a side street, faced by a large brick dwelling, there
came with regular and unhurried tread a tall and dignified figure,
crowned with a soft Panama, and tapping with official cane. As it
approached the car the driver straightened a trifle on the seat.

"Good mawnin', Judge Wilson," he said.

"Uh-ah, good mawnin', James," replied the judge. "Uh-ah, Doctah Gregg
li'l late this mawnin', eh?"

"Yessah, seems like," said the driver, his head again falling.

In perhaps five or ten minutes, perhaps half an hour, there would be
heard the tapping of another cane, and Dr. Gregg, also tall, not quite
so portly, and wearing a white beaver instead of a soft Panama, would
appear from the opening of yet another side street tributary to the car.

"Good mawnin', James," said the doctor as he passed; and the driver
answered respectfully.

"Good mornin', Doctah. You li'l late this mornin', seems like."

"Well, yessah, I may be a leetle late, just a leetle.--Good mawnin',
Judge; how are you this mawnin', sah?"

"Very well, Doctah, sah, thank you, sah. Step in an' seddown. Right
wahm, this mawnin'. Uh-ah!"

So the judge and the doctor sat down in the car, and conversed, easily
and in no haste, perhaps for five or ten minutes, perhaps for half an
hour. Now and then the driver cast a glance out of the side of his eye
over toward the lion-headed gates, but no one was uneasy or anxious.
The mules were to apparent view very sad and still, yet really very
happy within their souls.

"Young lady li'l late this mawnin', seems like," remarked the Judge.

"Oh, yes, but she'll be 'long direckly, I reckon," replied the doctor.
"You know how 'bout these young folks. They don't always realize the
impohtance o' pressin' business mattehs. But we must fo'give heh.
Judge, we must fo'give heh, foh she suhtinly is well wo'th waitin' foh;
yes indeed."

"Uh-ah! quite right, Doctah, quite right! Fine young lady, fine young
lady. Old stock, yes indeed! Beechams o' Fehginny. Too bad Cousin
Sarann Clayton keeps heh so close like. She fitten to be received,
sah, to be received!"

"Yes, indeed," assented the doctor. "Yes, sah. Now, ain't that the
young lady a-comin' down the walk?"

Judge and doctor and driver now turned their gaze beyond the
lion-headed gateway to the winding walk that passed among the trees up
to the old mansion house. Far off, through the great columns of the
trees, there might indeed this morning