he will buy them--two, at least."

Uncle William got to his feet. "I s'pose ye told him about Alan and
about my place."

She stopped short, looking at him reproachfully. "Not a word," she
said--"not a single word!"

Uncle William's countenance fell. "Wa'n't that what you went out for?"

"No; and you must not mention it. I only told him that you liked them."

"Can't I even say that's my house out there?" He waved his hand.

"Never!" It was energetic. "You would spoil it all."

"Will it hurt it any to be my house?" he asked, a little sore.

"You know it is not that." She laid her hand on his arm affectionately.
"We shall tell him all about it some day; but now, just now, while he is
making up his mind, it would distract him. He wants to look at them as
art."

Uncle William sighed gently. "Well, I'll do my best, but it's goin'
agen' nature not to bust right out with it." They passed into the larger
room. On the opposite side the man was standing, his eyeglasses on his
nose, looking expectantly toward the door.

When he saw them, he smiled and moved forward with suave grace.