'Oh, I'm so glad,' she cried, kissing him gratefully. She pictured an airy, spacious mansion, exquisitely furnished, for Joseph assured her that the original furnishings needed but a little polishing and repair to hold their own with those of Richmond Hill. She saw herself, composed and gracious, inspiring the slaves to efficient service, assisting Joseph in his budding political ambitions by adroit hospitality. There would be a well-stocked library and music, intelligent, sparkling conversation. A salon, perhaps—a small center of sophistication and culture, thought Theo, enthusiastically ignoring the isolation and the unpromising material she had so far discovered on the Waccamaw. 'With energy and ambition all things arc possible'. Had not Aaron said so a hundred times?

After these romantic dreams the reality proved bitter. She and Joseph arrived at the Oaks in November, and she could not hide her dismay. She had shut her eyes to the tangle of unmowed grass, to the unfilled holes which rendered the plantation drive a bumping torture, but at her first sight of the house she turned on Joseph incredulously. 'But it's so small, scarcely bigger than our gardener's cottage at home, and—what's the matter with the roof?'

The roof, half-covered with the original weathered shingles, and half-renewed with the raw yellow of unpainted pine, presented a singularly spotty and raffish appearance.

'They haven't finished it,' said Joseph unhappily.

Indeed, they had finished nothing. The porch still sagged, two of the six small rooms were littered with lumber and paint pots, and Theodosia suspected that evening a fact which she later repeatedly verified: fifty slaves could not accomplish as much as one skilled Yankee workman.

They moved in, anyway. Discouraged as she was, Theo yet definitely vetoed Joseph's suggestion that they go to Clifton 'until the place was ready.'

'No. Obviously we must be here to supervise'. And Joseph, ashamed of the failure of his plan, agreed.

The house gradually became habitable. She sent to her father in New York for ornaments and furniture, Joseph's heirlooms having turned out to be few and rickety.

'With energy all things are possible'. Yes. But what to do if the energy is lacking? thought Theo. The glowing health and enthusiasm with which she had arrived on the Waccamaw ebbed day by day.

By the end of November she knew that she was to have a baby, and she wrote to Aaron at once. He was delighted, wrote letter after letter of advice. He exhorted her to watch her diet, to attend to her teeth, and to take exercise.

'You must walk a great deal. I do entreat you to get a very stout pair of overshoes or short boots, with one button to keep them on; thick enough, however, to turn water.... Without exercise you will suffer in the month of May.... Walk, if you must be in form, with ten negroes at your heels.'