ses and even some of the mansion's
lower rooms. He had heard such visitors rave over the "old Colonial"
appointments and knew that Deerhurst's mistress had been secretly
flattered by this admiration.

Ah! but that was before this dreadful thing had happened! When--before
somebody had stolen, some unknown thief had been within those walls!

"Well, sah, Ah is sutney sorry but, sah, when I'se lef' to care-take,
sah, I care-takes. Some uddah time, when Miss Betty done be yeah,
sah, sutney, sah----"

The negro's exaggerated courtesy affronted Oliver Sands. It was not
his policy to contest the point, and if he had fancied he could
persuade this loyal care-taker to admit him that he might search the
house as he had searched many other houses of late, he silently
admitted his own mistake and drove away with no further word than:
"Gid-dap, George Fox!"

But he drove home with head on breast and a keen disappointment in his
heart; which expressed itself in a stern rebuke to his wife as he
entered her kitchen and met her timid, inquiring glance:

"Thee has maggots in thy head, Dorcas Sands. I advise thee to get rid
of them."

She might have retorted with equal truth: "So is thee maggotty,
Oliver, else would thee do openly that which should bring thee peace."

But being a dutiful wife she kept silence, though she brooded many
things in her tender heart; and the incident passed without further
comment than Seth Winters's ambiguous remark, when Ephraim told of the
miller's call: "So the leaven is working, after all."

But while this trivial affair was happening at Deerhurst, the train
had swiftly carried the household to the hill-city a few miles up the
river; and almost before they were comfortably settled in the crowded
car, the conductor was announcing: "Newburgh next! All out for
Newburgh!"

"Here we are! And here's our stage! We've chartered a whole one to
carry us up the hill. A hard climb and no time to lose!" called out a
boyish voice and Herbert's tall shoulder shoved a path through the
throng. "There's another empty over yonder, if the 'help' speak quick
enough!"

But Aunt Malinda standing bewildered and Dinah indignantly correcting
somebody for jostling her, rather delayed this operation; so, at a nod
from the Master, Jim Barlow made a bee line for the vehicle and
stoutly held it as "engaged!" against all comers.

"It's a case of every man for himself!" laughed Monty, squeezing his
fat body toward the group