“Tom,” said Austen, “where did you say that livery-stable was?”

“Oh, dang the livery-stable!” answered Mr. Gaylord.  “I hear there’s quite a sentiment for you for governor.  How about it?  You know I’ve always said you could be United States senator and President.  If you’ll only say the word, Austen, we’ll work up a movement around the State that’ll be hard to beat.”

“Tom,” said Austen, laying his hand on young Mr. Gaylord’s farther shoulder, “you’re a pretty good fellow.  Where did you say that livery-stable was?

“I’ll go sleigh-riding with you,” said Mr. Gaylord.  “I guess the Pingsquit bill can rest one afternoon.”

“Tom, I don’t know any man I’d rather take than you,” said Austen.

The unsuspecting Tom was too good-natured to be offended, and shortly after dinner Austen found himself in the process of being looked over by a stout gentleman named Putter, proprietor of Putter’s Livery, who claimed to be a judge of men as well as horses.  Austen had been through his stalls and chosen a mare.

“Durned if you don’t look like a man who can handle a horse,” said Mr. Putter.  And as long as you’re a friend of Tom Gaylord’s I’ll let you have her.  Nobody drives that mare but me.  What’s your name?”

“Vane.”

“Ain’t any relation to old Hilary, be you?”

“I’m his son,” said Austen, “only he doesn’t boast about it.”

“Godfrey!” exclaimed Mr. Putter, with a broad grin, “I guess you kin have her.  Ain’t you the man that shot a feller out West?  Seems to me I heerd somethin’ about it.”

“Which one did you hear about?” Austen asked.

“Good Lord!” said Mr. Putter, “you didn’t shoot more’n one, did you?”

It was just three o’clock when Austen drove into the semicircle opposite the Widow Peasley’s, rang Mr. Crewe’s door-bell, and leaped into the sleigh once more, the mare’s nature being such as to make it undesirable to leave her.  Presently Mr. Crewe’s butler appeared, and stood dubiously in the vestibule.

“Will you tell Miss Flint that Mr. Vane has called for her, and that I cannot leave the horse?”

The man retired with obvious disapproval.  Then Austen heard Victoria’s voice in the hallway:—­“Don’t make a goose of yourself, Humphrey.”  Here she appeared, the colour fresh in her cheeks, her slender figure clad in a fur which even Austen knew was priceless.  She sprang into the sleigh, the butler, with annoying deliberation, and with the air of saying that this was an affair of which he washed his hands, tucked in Mr. Putter’s best robe about her feet, the mare leaped forward, and they were off, out of the circle and flying up the hill on the hard snow-tracks.

“Whew!” exclaimed Victoria, “what a relief!  Are you staying in that dear little house?” she asked, with a glance at the Widow Peasley’s.

“Yes,” said Austen.

“I wish I were.”