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 of the verandah , over whose white roof trailed a luxuriant creeper , its leaves tinged by October frosts into lovely wine reds and tawny yellows . Gussie sprang out , barely touching my offered hand with her fingertips . `` There 's Mother waiting to pounce on you and hear all the family news , '' she said , `` so go and greet her like a dutiful nephew . '' `` I must take out your horse for you first , '' I said politely . `` Not at all , '' said Miss Ashley , taking the reins from my hands in a way not to be disputed . `` I always unharness Charley myself . No one understands him half so well . Besides , I 'm used to it . Did n't I tell you I 'd always been Father 's boy ? '' `` I well believe it , '' I thought in disgust , as she led the horse over to the well and I went up to Aunt Lucy . Through the sitting-room windows I kept a watchful eye on Miss Ashley as she watered and deftly unharnessed Charley and led him into his stable with sundry pats on his nose .
Then I saw no more of her XXXXX she came in to tell us tea was ready , and led the way out to the dining room .
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