"Of course." The young man rose, holding out a hand. "I'm glad to meet
you, sir. I shall be back in a minute. I'll bring him right up." His
step rang quick on the rock outside.

The two old men looked at each other.

Uncle William's face wore its roundest smile. "I wouldn't be s'prised if
he stayed quite a spell." He brought a chair and planted it in front of
the stranger. "Set down."

The man sat down, looking around the room. "It is good to be here," he
said.

Uncle William, with a hand on either knee, surveyed him over his
spectacles. "I saw 't was you 'fore you landed."

The man's face fell a little. "We wanted to surprise you--"

"You've s'prised _him_ all right. He hain't no idea what he's runnin'
to." He looked toward the door. "I reckon he'll stay an hour."

The man crossed one thin leg over another. "That gives me more time," he
said contentedly.

Uncle William gazed politely. "Was you wantin' time?" he asked.

The man smiled. "I wanted to see you."

"You wanted to see _me_?" Uncle William's face held pleasure, but not