He had scarcely spoken, when Susan burst into the chamber again,crying, "Jacob, they are coming, they have come!"

"Who?"

"Father and mother; and we didn't expect them, you know, for a weekyet."

All three went to the door as the visitors made their appearance onthe veranda. Two of the party stood as if thunderstruck, and twoexclamations came together:

"Samuel Flint!"

"Lucy Wheeler!"

There was a moment's silence; then the farmer's wife, with avisible effort to compose herself, exclaimed, "Lucy Meadows, now."