Much surprise was expressed by all the Cameron family, save the mother,
when told that instead of accompanying them to New York, Wilford would
take another route, and one directly out of his way; while, what was
stranger than all, he did not know when he should be home; it would
depend upon circumstances, he said, evincing so much annoyance at being
questioned with regard to his movements, that the quick-witted Juno
readily divined that there was some girl in the matter, teasing him
unmercifully to tell her who she was, and what the fair one was like.

"Don't, for pity's sake, bring us a verdant specimen," she said, as she
at last bade him good-by, and turned her attention to Mark Ray, her
brother's partner, who had been with them at Newport, and whom she was
bending all her energies to captivate.

With his sister's bantering words ringing in his ears, Wilford kept on
his way until the last change was made, and when he stopped again it
would be at Silverton. He did not expect any one to meet him, but as he
remembered the man whom he had seen greeting Katy, he thought it not
unlikely that he might be there now, laughing to himself as he pictured
Juno's horror, could she see him driving along in the corn-colored
vehicle which Uncle Ephraim drove. But that vehicle was safe at home
beneath the shed, while Uncle Ephraim was laying a stone wall upon the
huckleberry hill, and the handsome carriage waiting at Silverton depot
was certainly unexceptionable; while in the young man who, as the train
stopped and Wilford stepped out upon the platform, came to meet him,
bowing politely, and asking if he were Mr. Cameron, Wilford recognized
the true gentleman, and his spirits arose as Morris said to him: "I am
Miss Lennox's cousin, deputed by her to meet and take charge of you for
a time."