She had acquiesced in Joseph's wish that her father's projected visit should not be mentioned to the family. The Oaks, an hour's ride from the other Alston plantations, would provide quiet asylum until Joseph could see how the land lay. His family never mentioned Aaron to Theo, but they did not disguise from Joseph their horror at the murder charge. If the papers said that the duel had been wickedly unfair, that Colonel Burr had most shamefully conspired to murder his enemy in cold blood, why, it was doubtless true. There was, at any rate, something fishy about the matter, and they preferred to ignore for the present the unfortunate relationship with which Joseph had saddled them.

Perhaps, thought Joseph hopefully, Colonel Burr may not arrive at all; he was apparently having much difficulty in finding transportation, or the money for it. So he tried to forget the matter.

He did not know about Theo's recent letter, and had no inkling of her decision that willy-nilly the family should assist at Aaron's welcome. The Vice-President in hiding at his daughter's home—never! Aaron was no skulking criminal, but a much-wronged man; he should be received with honor. But unfortunately one must first proceed with guile.

'I think we should give a party for William Algernon and Mrs. Young,' she announced one evening at dinner.

Joseph was surprised and pleased. Her share in the family hospitality had never been as whole-hearted as he wished.

'Splendid! I must go to Columbia next week, but when I return——'

'That is too long to wait,' she interrupted. 'I was thinking of Saturday. No,' she went on quickly, as she saw protest forming. He never liked sudden plans, particularly when they did not originate with him. 'I shall take care of everything. I have already written all the invitations. Pompey shall deliver them this evening. Besides, if we wait too long, Mrs. Young may be gone. She is contemplating a trip to Charleston to buy her wedding finery, you know.'

He nodded unwillingly. 'Well, but it seems hurried. We must do the thing right. It would never do to be niggardly. We entertain so seldom here.'

'Of course. We'll give a magnificent party. Waccamaw Neck will never forget it, I promise you.'

Especially after they discover who is to be the real guest of honor, she thought, secretly mirthful, and set about her plans.

It was to be a truly magnificent party. Everything from the food to the entertainment was to be as perfect as she could provide from the limited resources of the Waccamaw. This was to be none of their stodgy dinners of fried meats and rice washed down with rum punch, and followed by a desultory card game, or the plunkety-plunking of the children on the harpsichord. She would startle them out of their smugness, show them that, when she chose, she could entertain with lavishness and brilliance.