"Uncle at last! Here he comes!"

Another few minutes and the mare's head turned the corner--then
the whole dog-cart came into view with Farmer Jocelyn driving it.
But he was quite alone.

Robin and Innocent exchanged surprised glances, but had no time to
make any comment as old Hugo just then drove up and, throwing the
reins to his nephew, alighted.

"Aren't you very late, Dad?" said Innocent then, going to meet
him--"I was beginning to be quite anxious!"

"Were you? Poor little one! I'm all right! I had business--I was
kept longer than I expected--" Here he turned quickly to Robin--
"Unharness, boy!--unharness!--and come in to supper!"

"Where's Landon?" asked Robin.

"Landon? Oh, I've left him in the town."

He pulled off his driving-gloves, and unbuttoned his overcoat--
then strode into the house. Innocent followed him--she was puzzled
by his look and manner, and her heart beat with a vague sense of
fear. There was something about the old man that was new and
strange to her. She could not define it, but it filled her mind
with a curious and inexplicable uneasiness. Priscilla, who was
setting the dishes on the table in the room where the cloth was
laid for supper, had the same uncomfortable impression when she