The principal event of the spring among the Ridgeleys, was the return home of Henry.  He had closed his novitiate, and was awaiting his examination for admission to the bar.  He had already, on the recommendation of his friend and instructor, Wade, formed a favorable business connection with the younger Hitchcock, at Painesville; and now, after a year’s absence, he came back to his mother and brothers, for a few days of relaxation and visiting.  Less strong than the Major, of grave, thoughtful, but cheerful face and mien, heavy-browed and deep-eyed, with plain, marked face, and finished manners, he was well calculated to impress favorably, and win confidence and respect.  His mind was solid, but lacked the sparkle and vivacity of Bart’s, and compensatingly was believed to be deep.  He was the pride and hope of the family:  around him gathered all its expectations of distinction, and no one shared all these more intensely than Bart, who had awaited his coming with hope and fear.  He was accompanied by a fellow-student named Ranney, of about his own age, and like him, above the usual height, broad and heavy-shouldered, with a massive head and strong face, a high narrow forehead; rather shy in manner, and taciturn.

They came one night while Bart was in the sugar-camp, where he spent many nights, and he met them the next morning at the breakfast-table.  No one could be gladder than he to meet his brother, but, like his mother, he was struck by his emaciated form and languor of manner.

Bart had heard of Ranney as a man of strong, profound, ingenious mind, with much power of sarcasm, and who had formed a partnership with Wade, on the retirement of Mr. Giddings from the bar.  He stood a little in awe of him, whose good opinion he would have gladly secured, but who, he had a presentiment, would not understand him.  Indeed, he was quite certain he did not understand himself.

The young men had been fellow-students for two years, had many things in common, and were strong friends.

Bart soon found that they had a slender view of his law reading, and spoke slightingly of Ford as a lawyer.  They had both diligently studied to the lower depths of the law, had a fair appreciation of their acquisitions, and would not overestimate the few months of solitary reading of a boy in the country.

Bart did not mention his studies, and only answered modestly his brother’s inquiries, who closed the subject for the time by saying that if he was serious in his desire to study law, “he would either arrange to take him to Painesville in the Fall, or have his friend Ranney take him in hand.”  Bart was pleased with the idea of being with either; and possibly he may have wondered whether whoever took him in hand would not have that hand full.

The young men strolled off to his sugar-camp during the forenoon, lounged learnedly about, evincing little interest in the camp and surroundings, although the deepening season had filled the woods with flowers and birds; and Bart wondered whether “Coke on Littleton,” and executory devises, and contingent remainders, had produced in them their natural consequences.  He watched to see whether new maple sugar was sweet to them, and on full reflection doubted if it was.