At any rate, this October frost had rendered the plantations safe once more. The river road up the Neck swarmed with homecoming planters in coaches, while the house servants who had accompanied them on the summer exile were packed, along with the movable household goods, into mule-drawn spring wagons.

Colonel William and his family returned to Clifton. John Ashe and Sally, the family augmented now by the baby, Wil liam, reopened Hagley. William Algernon took possession of Rose Hill, the plantation next but one to Clifton. His father had just given it to him in anticipation of his marriage to a charming widow who was also a cousin. Polly Young, née Allston, from the double '1' branch, was a buxom matron of twenty-eight, five years older than her prospective husband and encumbered, moreover, with a little girl, Eliza. But the staid William Algernon saw no disadvantage in that, particularly as Mrs. Young was possessed of a considerable fortune. He was all eagerness to establish himself and waited impatiently for Polly's second year of widowhood to end, that they might marry without offending convention.

Theodosia, drawn perforce into the whirl of family reunions, watched the delighted fuss being made over Mrs. Young's imminent entrance into the family and illogically was hurt. It was 'Polly dear' this and 'Darling Polly, what do you think of that?' No gathering was complete unless Polly were there. And they petted and made much of little Eliza, who was not even direct kin, paying her far more attention than they did Gampy.

Theo was fair enough, however, to realize that she had never been able to muster much appreciation for the Alstons. Still, human nature being what it is, it is one thing to withdraw from a group because you find it unattractive and quite another to have it withdraw from you. Particularly now, when Aaron needed all the friends and backing that could be had. Since Joseph's visit to the island, she had been startled out of her indifference to newspaper reading and had sent Hector on constant trips to Georgetown after the latest news. Though most of it was local, there was occasional mention of Aaron, and she had been appalled at the venom displayed. Decidedly he needed friends.

For some time the maddening difficulties in communication had made his exact arrival uncertain; their letters crossed, or hers arrived after he had left. But she at last heard definitely that he was in Savannah and would board the first packet for Georgetown. He would be at the Oaks in five days, allowing for the ship's inevitable stop-over in Charleston.