at either side of the large, uncut stone at the threshold;
except for a massive exterior chimney the somberly
painted frame structure was without noticeable
feature.

He discovered immediately from the youthful
feminine figure awaiting him at the door that he
was not at fault. Mrs. Crandall's face radiated her
pleasure.

"Mr. Makimmon!" she cried; "there's just no
one we'd rather see than you. Step right out, and
Alexander'll take your horse. He's only at the back
of the house... Alec!" she called; "Alec, what
do you suppose? -- here's Mr. Makimmon."

Alexander Crandall quickly appeared, in a hide
apron covered with curlings of wood. A slight concern
was visible upon his countenance, as though he
expected at any moment to see revealed the "string"
of which his brother had spoken.

Gordon adequately met his salutation, and turned
to the woman. He saw now that she was more
mature than Lettice: the mouth before him, although
young and red, was bitten in at the corners; already
the eyes gazed through a shadow of care; the capable
hands were rough and discolored from toil and
astringent soaps.

"Come in, come in," Crandall urged, striving to
banish the sudden anxiety from his voice.

"And you go right around, Alec," his wife added,

[[301]]

p300 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p301w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p302

v?