So, thought Hamilton, as he rose with the rest, that's the way the cat jumps now. And for what purpose is Burr shoveling flattery at this oaf of a planter who is obviously destined to carve his name on nothing more enduring than his own rice swamps? He pondered this without result.

In between the toasts that followed, Aaron conversed with Joseph Alston, awakening in him, by the simple method of telling him of them, sentiments that he had not known he possessed.

The young planter relaxed, puffing at his cigar. Colonel Burr, it seemed, thought him wondrous patriotic, found that he had great understanding of the country's needs. Joseph hazarded a few remarks and found that they revealed conspicuous political acumen. Dazzled by this new picture of himself, he suddenly realized that none but Colonel Burr had ever had the penetration to value him at his true worth. A hazy glow of good-will subdued his habitual truculence. He helped himself to repeated glasses of Madeira, until Aaron, who had barely sipped from his own glass, pushed back his chair.

'What do you say, gentlemen, to a game of loo or whist or dicing? Though I believe that the younger ones amongst us may prefer to dance. At any rate, let us join the lovely charmers who await us, I trust, impatiently.'

In the drawing-room the ladies upon finishing dinner had divided themselves into two natural groups. At one end by the fireplace, the matrons clustered around Mrs. Hamilton and enjoyed a technical discussion about a difficult lying-in. Even Mrs. Jay inclined her stately head and gave it as her opinion that a drop of laudanum was permissible at such a time. 'Though, mind you, I don't hold with coddling. Our Creator intended women to suffer, and has given us the strength to stand it.'

Sophie du Pont made a tiny choked sound. 'Does eet—is eet so bad?' she whispered.

The ladies looked at her frightened face, and Mrs. Hamilton's softened with quick sympathy. 'My dear child, I didn't realize. How stupid of me to talk like that! I can see now, but really with these new styles one can hardly tell, can one? No, of course it's not so bad.'

Sophie tried to smile. 'But I am so old for a first. Twenty-five.'

The ladies clucked dismay; not one of them but had had a full nursery by that time. Still, Mrs. Hamilton launched into detailed advice, for, by virtue of her many pregnancies, she was an authority. Sophie listened respectfully.

At the other end of the long room the girls twittered like starlings. They had intended to try some recently imported songs on Theo's magnificent new pianoforte. Angelica Hamilton and Theo enjoyed duets. But Angelica was more than musically talented, she was touched with genius, and Theo found herself unable to follow the other girl's brilliant performance. So they gave it up. Angelica played soft roulades and chords to herself, while the others abandoned music for more exciting topics.