Everything was ready. Flowers were renewed each day in the blue room, the fire laid on the hearth. Cupid or one of the other pickaninnies kept constant watch at the gate. They had orders to scamper to the house with warning at the first sign of a horseman on the river road. She was sure that he would come on horseback. Merne had ever disdained a lumbering coach.

But no one came. No one but William Algernon and Polly Alston to pay a brief call. Theo was in a fever of impatience while they sat languidly sipping rum punch and making civil conversation on the porch. Suppose this should be the moment of Meme's arrival, now, with this critical brother and sister-in-law to witness their meeting! They would have to pretend again, she and Merne, as they had so often been forced to pretend, that they did not know each other well, make formal greeting, guard their eyes from each other. They must meet as strangers, or the family tongues would be yapping.

She controlled her desire to be rid of these two, forced her tongue to civil inquiry—'How is little Eliza?' and, 'Are you indeed going to Charleston so early this season?' and, 'How is Colonel William's health now? Joseph and I were much distressed to hear that he had had a touch of ague.'

And as she talked, her glance slid past them down the drive, her fingers pleated a fold of her skirt.

'And when will Joseph be back from Columbia, this time?' asked William Algernon.

She caught sight of Cupid scampering toward them, and her heart hammered. She rose abruptly, sank back again. Cupid turned off toward the quarters.

I'm sorry,' she said to their surprised faces, 'I thought someone was coming. Why—I don't know when Joseph will be back. Perhaps next week.'

'Joseph is becoming of great political importance,' remarked William Algernon, helping himself to more punch.

'You must be proud of him,' added Polly amiably. 'Very like he will be Governor of the State yet.'

'Perhaps he will,' said Theo. Would they never go? Just now, as dusk was gathering under the hanging moss and the porch was shadowed, he would be most likely to come—at the end of a day's ride.