extraordinary companion to the end of the
road at Indian Rock--a slight rheumatic tendency, that he declared was
hereditary, rendering it advisable for Mr. Brown to reduce the use of
his legs to a minimum--and before Mr. Port could rally his forces they
had entered it and had driven away.

[Illustration: They had entered it and had driven away 050]

In the evening Mr. Port found another surprise awaiting him. Miss Lee
presently retired from the veranda for the avowed purpose of searching
for a missing fan, thus leaving the two gentlemen together.

[Illustration: What a charming girl your niece is 054]

"What a charming girl your niece is, Port!" said Mr. Brown, as the
fluttering train of Dorothy's dress disappeared through the door-way.

Mr. Port evidently considered that this possibly debatable statement was
sufficiently answered by a grunt, for that was all the answer he gave
it.

Not permitting his enthusiasm to be checked by this chillingly dubious
response, Mr. Brown continued:

"She certainly is one of the most charming girls I have met in a long
time, Port. She is not a bit like the average of young girls nowadays.
I rarely have known a young person of either sex to be so genuinely
interested in genealogy, especially in Philadelphia genealogy; and
I must say that her liking for antiquarian matters generally is very
remarkable. I envy you, I really envy you, old boy, the blessing of that
sweet young creature's constant companionship."

"Umph--do you?" was Mr. Port's concise and rather discouraging reply.

"Indeed I do"--Mr. Brown was too warm to notice the cynical tone of his
friend's rejoinder--"and I have been thinking, Port, that we are a pair
of selfish old wretches to monopolize every evening in the way that we
have been doing this bright young flower. It is a shame for us to keep
her in our stupid company--though she tells me that she finds our talk
about old people and old times exceedingly interesting--instead of
letting her have a little of the young society and a little of the
excitement and pleasure of watering-place life. Now, how would it do
for us to take her down to the Casino to-night? There is to be a hop
to-night, she says; at least, that is to say"--Mr. Brown became somewhat
confused--"I heard somewhere that there is to be a hop tonight, and
while that sort of thing is pretty stupid for you and me, it isn't a bit
stupid for a young and pretty girl like her. So suppose we take her, old