“Let’s get out here,” announced Brother Lu, with an air of importance that must have further awed both Matilda and Andrew.  “There’s my friend Billings, coming over to see who we are.  I told him I wanted to show you all around this elegant place, and he agreed to pilot us about.  Now, to look at him, managing this property, you’d never think that Malcolm Billings was once down and out, and the worst-looking tramp that ever took to the road; but it’s true.  I remember him well.  We first met riding on the rods of a freight car out on the Santa Fe road.  You see, some rich fellow took a fancy to Malcolm, and gave him a chance to make good; and I reckon he’s a-doing that same, all right.”

He greeted the other familiarly as “Mal,” and having been drilled in his part, the manager of the place called him “Wandering Lu,” as though he could not dissociate the other from the roving life of the past.  The boys, keenly watching, could see that he quickly turned his eyes on Matilda and Andrew when introduced by Brother Lu; and also that there was a light in their depths that told how he appreciated this little surprise which the other was playing.

So they started to see first of all the grounds, which consisted of many acres, all in a high state of cultivation, and with flower gardens, vegetable ditto, and all manner of fine fruits, such as a rich man loves to grow on his own country place.  There were even Jersey cows, and fowls of various breeds, as well as a flock of pigeons that gave Matilda more delight than anything else; for secretly it had always been a pet wish of hers to some day have a flock of doves fluttering around her head, just as she had seen the tame ones of St. Mark’s in Venice do—–­in pictures, of course, because Matilda had never been abroad—–­as yet.

Had either of them been in the least suspicious they might have wondered just why Jerry, for instance, had taken the big car over to the garage and started to clean it as though it really belonged there.  The boys saw this, but not Matilda or Andrew, who were in a seventh heaven of rapture, and not walking on earth.

Then they went to the house, where a matronly woman met them.  Brother Lu, more than ever like a magician of the first water, seemed to be friendly with the housekeeper also, for he introduced his sister and the others to Mrs. Husted.  She took her cue from Mr. Billings, who was also present, and tried to act as though she were condescending to agree to show these strangers through the beautiful house; but it was an exceedingly hard task for her, because she knew that with the wave of the wizard’s wand this lady would henceforth become her mistress.

Thad, lingering behind, could hardly contain himself.  He would again and again manage to give Hugh a knock with his elbow, and gurgle something half under his breath, only to have the other shake a finger at him, and add a look of reproof.

They went through the house from top to bottom.