How trivial now seemed her past concern with the Alstons! What matter now their approval or disapproval ! Buoyed by the certainty that she would soon be quit of them and deprived of her northern trip by Aaron's absence, she managed to find some pleasure in the planter's unchanging schedule. In the spring and fall one stayed on the plantation; summer—Debordieu Island. In the winter—Charleston for the prescribed round of festivity, the Saint Cecilia Musicals in January, soirées at the home of the Pinckneys or Rutledges, return hospitality at her own house on Church Street. February brought Race Week and the climax of Charleston excitement. The planters gathered from all over the Carolinas to enter horses, to lay bets, and to cheer wildly at the success of their favorites. Theo sat in the Alston box near Colonel William, who during this period was reduced to a pulp of quivering nerves. He oscillated between the paddock and the grandstand, alternately wringing his hands and cursing the jockeys, or trembling with triumph and shouting encouragement. Theo continued unable to care very much about the outcome, but she managed to hide this and to show a creditable degree of the enthusiasm which was expected of her.

For the theater she did not have to feign enthusiasm. And though she privately thought both the productions and the actors far inferior to those in New York, she admired the graceful pseudo-Greek building on New Street with its white-and-silver interior, which set off the ladies' gowns to such advantage. Here she laughed or thrilled with the others to the drama of Gustavus Vassa, The Mountaineers, and Blue Beard or Feminine Curiosity, forgetting for a little while even the delicious consciousness of 'X.'

She and Joseph did not often discuss the project. There was little that she knew tangibly to discuss, and he was often absent from her in Columbia, where the House had appointed him its Speaker. It made her happy, however, to know that she might mention it to him. It would have been a weighty secret to carry alone, and the knowledge brought them closer together.

Sooner or later she knew that Aaron would summon her to a more active part in the project, and she waited with what patience she could, devouring his letters and training Gampy for his exalted rôle to the best of her abilities, in view of her son's extremely tender years.

She unearthed an exiled Spaniard in Charleston and began Spanish lessons with him, for the French and smattering of German and Italian which she already possessed would be of scant use in Mexico.