约翰叔叔一行人在离米尔维尔最近的火车站下了车，然后坐着租来的马车在崎岖的路上颠簸了很久才辗转到了米尔维尔。一路上，大家对即将到达的农场做了各种糟糕的猜测，做了最坏的打算。不过当他们走进维格农场的时候，所有人都被眼前的美景迷住了。
"Well，"said Uncle John，looking out of the car window，"we're nearly there."He didn't look the millionaire，or nabob，or anything elsebut a modest little man full of joy at getting into the country.His clothing was not distinctive of wealth，his hands were hard and roughened by years of toil，and his necktie had a plebeian trick of sliding under his left ear.Uncle John was just a plain，simple，good—hearted fellow before he acquired riches，and the possession of millions had in no way altered his nature.
The three nieces and himself were the only passengers in the coach，aside from rosy—cheeked Mary，Patricia's cook.Finding that the road did not run a sleeper to Chazy Junction，Mr.Merrick had ordered one attached to the train for his especial use；but he did not allow even Patsy to suspect this extravagance.
"It seems to me，"observed Beth，as she peered out whilethe train puffed up the steep grade，"as if we'd arrived at the heart of a wilderness，where farms are likely to be as scarce as Egyptian temples.""The truth is，"replied her uncle，with a cheerful smile，"that none of us has an idea where we're going，or what that farm of mine looks like.We're explorers，like Stanley in mid—Africa.That's the beauty of this excursion.""I'm glad I didn't bring any party dresses，"said daintyLouise，shaking her blonde head with a doubting expression toward the rock covered hills.
"Why，you might need them for hay—rides，"remarked Patsy，with a laugh；"that is，if any hay grows in this land of quarriesa."The train stopped with a jerk，started with another jerk，and stopped again with a third that made them catch their breaths and hold fast to the seats.
"Chazy Junction，seh，"said the colored porter，enteringin haste to seize their bags.
They alightedb on a small wooden platform and their hand baggage was deposited beside them.Their trunks were being tumbledc off a car far ahead.
Then the whistle screamed，the train gave a jerk andproceeded on its way，and Uncle John，his nieces and their maid，found themselves confronting a solitary man in shirtsleeves，who yawned languidlyd，thrust his hands in his pockets and stared at the strangers unmoved.
It was six o'clock.The July sun was set in a clear sky，but the air was cool and pleasant.Uncle John glanced around with the eye of a practiced traveler.Back of the station was a huddle of frame buildings set in a hollow.The station—tender was the only person in sight.
"Isn't there a carriage to meet us？"asked Louise，in aslightly frigide tone.
"Seems not，"replied her uncle.Then he addressed the native."Can you tell us，sir，where Millville is？"he asked.
"Sev'n mile up the road."
"Thank you kindly.Is there any carriage to be had？"The man smiled sardonicallya.
"Kerridges，"he said，"don't grow in these parts.I take ityou be the party fer the Wegg farm.""You're right，"said Mr.Merrick."I'm glad we are getting acquainted.Folks all well？""Pretty fair.""Now，sir，we want some breakfast，to begin with，and then some way to get to my farm.""Peggy orter 'a'looked after you，"remarked the man，eyeing the dainty gowns of the young ladies re？ectively."Who's Peggy？""That's McNutt，the man you hired to do things.""Ah，yes；he surely ought to have sent some sort of ateam to meet us，"agreed Uncle John."What's that group of houses yonder？""Thet's the Junction.""Any hotel？""Sure.""And a livery stable？""'Course there is.""Then we'll get along，"said Uncle John，assuming asudden brisk manner."Just keep your eye on our baggage till we get back，my good fellow.There are no people t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h i t ，b u t s o m e b e a r s o r t i g e r s m i g h t come out of the hills and eat it up.Now，girls，away we go！"Uncle John's nieces were not so greatly dismayed at this experience as might have been expected.They had recently accompanied their erratic relative on a European trip and hadlearned to be patient under dif？culties.
A quarter of a mile down the dusty road they came to the hotel，a dismal，unclean looking place that smelled of stale beer.Uncle John routed outa the proprietor.
"Folks up？"he inquired.
"Long ago，"said the man.
"Get us some boiled eggs，bread and butter and plenty of fresh milk—right away，"ordered Mr.Merrick."The quicker it comes the more I'll pay you.Bring a table out here on the porch and we'll eat in the open air.Where's the livery stable—eh？Oh，I see.Now，step lively，my man，and your fortune's made.I'll add a quarter of a dollar for every ？ve minutes you save us in time."The fellow stared，then woke up with a start anddisappeared within.
"By gum，I'll bet a hen it's thet air nabob！"he muttered.
Leaving his girls and Mary to sit on the wooden benches of the porch Uncle John crossed the road to the livery stable，where he discovered a man and a boy engaged in cleaning the half dozen sorry looking nags the establishment contained.A three—seated democrat wagon was engaged to carry the party to the Wegg farm at Millville，and a rickety lumber wagon would take the baggage.The liveryman recognized his customer as soon as the Wegg farm was mentioned，and determined to "do the city guy up brown.""Road's bad an'up hill，an'my time's vallyble，"he saidin a surly voice."I'll hev to charge ye three dollars.""For what？"asked Uncle John，quietly.
"Fer the two teams to Millville."
"Get them harnessed right away，load up the baggage，and have the democrat at the hotel in twenty minutes.Here's five dollars，and if you'll look pleasant you may keep the change.""Blame my thick skulla！"muttered the livery—man，as hewatched the little man depart."What a cussedb fool I were not to say four dollars instead o'three！"But he called to his boy to hurry up，and in the stipulatedc time the teams were ready.
