Soon the village loomed in sight, and later on the
open gateway of "Yardley," the old Cobden Manor,
with its two high brick posts topped with white balls
and shaded by two tall hemlocks, through which
could be seen a level path leading to an old colonial
house with portico, white pillars supporting a balcony,
and a sloping roof with huge chimneys and
dormer windows.

Martha quickened her steps, and halting at the
gate-posts, paused for a moment with her eyes up the
road. It was yet an hour of the time of her bairn's
arrival by the country stage, but her impatience was
such that she could not enter the path without this
backward glance. Meg, who had followed behind
his mistress at a snail's pace, also came to a halt and,
as was his custom, picked out a soft spot in the road
and sat down on his haunches.

Suddenly the dog sprang up with a quick yelp
and darted inside the gate. The next instant a young
girl in white, with a wide hat shading her joyous
face, jumped from behind one of the big hemlocks
and with a cry pinioned Martha's arms to her side.

"Oh, you dear old thing, you! where have you
been? Didn't you know I was coming by the early
stage?" she exclaimed in a half-querulous tone.