I tried to show her how foolish it was , but I did n't succeed . Mother thinks there must be a man at the head of affairs or they 'll never go right . I could have taken full charge easily enough ; I have n't been Father 's ` boy ' all my life for nothing . There was no need to take you away from your business . '' I protested . I said I was going to take a vacation anyway , and business was not pressing just then . I also hinted that , while I had no doubt of her capacity , she might have found the duties of superintendent rather arduous . `` Not at all , '' she said , with a serenity that made me groan inwardly . `` I like it . Father always said I was a born business manager . You 'll find Ashley 's Mills very quiet , I 'm afraid . It 's a sort of charmed Sleepy Hollow . See , there 's home , '' as we turned a maple-blazoned corner and looked from the crest of one hill across to that of another . `` Home '' was a big , white , green-shuttered house buried amid a riot of autumn colour , with a big grove of dark green spruces at the back . Below them was a glimpse of a dark blue mill pond and beyond it long sweeps of golden-brown meadow land , sloping up till they dimmed in horizon mists of pearl and purple . `` How pretty , '' I exclaimed admiringly . `` Is n't it ? '' said Gussie proudly . `` I love it . '' Her pupils dilated into dark pools , and I rather unwillingly admitted that Miss Ashley was a fine-looking girl .
As we drove up Aunt Lucy was standing on the steps XXXXX the verandah , over whose white roof trailed a luxuriant creeper , its leaves tinged by October frosts into lovely wine reds and tawny yellows .
Below amid at for from of that till while with