Stopping at the bottom of the steps, she saluted the brother and sister, whose faces showed that they were in need of some sort of explanation of her arrival at their domestic threshold.

In a few words she explained how the carriage had happened to enter the grounds, and hoped that they would consider that the impropriety was due entirely to the driver, and not to any desire on their part to intrude themselves on private property for the sake of sight-seeing.  Ralph and Miriam were both pleased with the words and manner of this exceedingly pleasant-looking lady.

“I beg that you will not consider at all that you have intruded,” said Ralph.  “If there is anything on our place that you would care to look at, I hope that you will do so.”

“It was only the barn,” said Mrs. Drane, with a smile.  “The man told us it was a peculiar building, but I supposed we could see it without entering your place.  We will trespass no longer.”

Ralph went down the steps, and Miriam followed.

“Oh, you are perfectly welcome to look at the barn as much as you wish to,” he said.  “In fact, we are rather proud to find that this is anything of a show place.  If the other lady will alight, I will be pleased to have you walk into the barn.  The door of the upper floor is open, and there is a very fine view from the back.”

Mrs. Drane smiled.

“You are very good indeed,” she said, “to treat intrusive strangers with such kindness, but I shall be glad to have you know that we are not mere tourists.  We are, at present, residents of Thorbury.  I am Mrs. Drane, and my daughter is engaged in assisting Dr. Tolbridge in some literary work.”

“If you are friends of Dr. Tolbridge,” said Ralph, “you are more than welcome to see whatever there is to see on this place.  The doctor is one of our best friends.  If you like, I will show you the barn, and perhaps my sister will come with us.”

Miriam, who for a week or more had been beset by the very unusual desire that she would like to see somebody and speak to somebody who did not live at Cobhurst, willingly agreed to assist in escorting the strangers, and Cicely having joined the group, they all walked toward the barn.

There were no self-introductions, Ralph merely acting as cicerone, and Miriam bringing up the rear in the character of occasional commentator.  Mrs. Drane had accepted the young gentleman’s invitation because she felt that the most polite thing to do under the circumstances was to gratify his courteous desire to put them at their ease, and, being a lover of fine scenery, she was well rewarded by the view from the great window.

The pride of possession began to glow a little within Ralph as he pointed out the features of this castle-like barn.  Mrs. Drane agreed to his proposition to descend to the second floor.  But as these two were going down the broad stairway, Cicely drew back, and suddenly turning, addressed Miriam.