seback along
the shore or through the woods, or we may drive in a carriage along the
shore or along the turnpike road through the woods; or, best of all, we
may row in a boat from the landing at the foot of our hill to the landing
at the foot of this hill. Oh, it will be perfectly delightful!"

Col. Anglesea looked at the child with his sinister smile, but she was too
happy to notice anything evil in it.

They took leave of the lawyer and the farmer, and started to walk home
through the woods, chattering all the way of the beauty of Greenbushes
even now, and the delight of the prospect ahead.

"It is too late this season; but mind, Odalite, next spring you are to
have a mansard roof, and bay windows, and--balconies, and--and--towers and
things," said Elva.

"Perhaps," quietly replied Odalite.

"Why, there is no 'perhaps' about it! Le said you were to do just as you
please with the house," suggested Wynnette.

"But that did not mean I should burn it down," said Odalite.

"Of course it did not. What do----"

"And he did not mean I should tear it down either, as I should have to do
to make all the improvements our ambitious little Elva suggests. Why,
darling, we might as well talk of putting a mansard on the top of that
clump of Scotch firs as on that irregularly built farmhouse."

"The top is about as uneven in height as a set of dinner casters, so we
will give up the mansard roof. But do have a bay window and some
balconies," said Elva.

"Perhaps," repeated Odalite.

So talking they reached the bridge crossing Chincapin Creek, with its
fringe of richly laden bushes, and stopped to gather the nuts.

It took but a little while to fill all their baskets, after which they
continued their homeward walk.

They reached Mondreer late in the afternoon.

Their father had returned from the courthouse. Their mother had recovered
from her headache. And the delayed dinner was served.

During the meal, which at Mondreer was always a merry one, the talk still
ran upon Greenbushes and its present and prospective attractions.

Col. Anglesea took little part in the conversation, but he listened and
smiled.

After dinner, and during the long winter evening that followed, he vainly
sought an opportunity of speaking alone with Mrs. Force.

He did not fail because she shunned him, but because the little party kept
together in the most persistent way, and he certainly could not ask Mrs.
Force in the presence of all her fam