“Really?  The old boy must be waking up a bit.  I’m thinking of offering to rent a few acres out here, so as to start a market-garden next spring—­if my eyes still need favouring, and there’s not much doubt of that.  Perhaps the sight of me digging round here will stir him up.”

“If it only would!  Oh, Jarvis, how I’d love to spend the winter in that house!” and Sally turned to gaze back at it.

“Would you—­clear off out here among the snow-drifts?  Well, I could imagine myself doing it with enthusiasm—­under two conditions.  The use of my eyes and the use of the library at the top of those stairs.  By the way, has Max taken any steps to sell that?”

“He’s been consulting a man or two, and he had one out here not long ago.  I’ve begged him to be careful, if he must sell it, lest he shouldn’t get all it’s worth.”

“He’d better be mighty careful.  I wish he’d trust me with that commission.  I believe I’ll mention it to him to-night.  I understood he didn’t intend to do anything about it at present, but if he has his mind on selling it I must have a word with him.  I believe the collection is worth a good deal more than any of us appreciate.”

Jarvis did not fail to follow up this idea.  When the party returned to the tent Max was coming from the house.  Jarvis talked with him for some time, and the conference ended with both of them looking cheerful.

Max was undoubtedly feeling the benefit of his taste of out-door life.  He joined in the festivities of the evening with more zest than he had shown in a long time, greatly to the delight of everybody.  It was a merry evening, and was followed by much jollity over the bestowing of so many people comfortably for the night.

Going to occupy his hammock, Mr. Rudd found a long figure swinging reposefully in it.

“Why, Jarvis!” he ejaculated.  “This is my place.  You are to have a room in the tent.”

“Not while you sleep outside, sir,” returned the guest, remaining composed for slumber.  “Beside, I don’t get a chance to sleep outdoors very often, and on such a night as this I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I don’t suppose I can forcibly eject you,” admitted Mr. Rudd.

“No, I think not.  I may not be as muscular as our friend Ferry, but I haven’t given up my morning exercise before my cold plunge since I left college, and I’m in fair shape to hold my own with whoever attempts to take this hammock away from me.  Go back to your room, please, Mr. Rudd.  I never was more comfortable in my life.”

To prove it, Jarvis went promptly to sleep, and nearly every one else did the same.  Mrs. Burnside was awake for some time, but she, too, fell asleep at last, leaving only one pair of wide-awake eyes in the tent.  Sally, for some unknown reason, could not feel the first inclination to repose.  She was up and sitting on a pillow beside her open tent flap, gazing out into the night, when she heard a singular noise.