blue."

Mrs. Webb smiled coldly. She was just as the girl had known her in
childhood--only the high black pompadour was now white. She still wore
her stiff black silk gown, fastened at the throat by a Confederate
button set in a brooch.

"You are like yourself and no one else," said Eugenia simply. "But tell
me of Dudley--where is he?"

Mrs. Webb's face softened slightly.

"His practice is in Richmond now," she answered. "You know he studied
law and took great honours at college. But his ambitions, I fear, are
political. I don't like politics. They aren't for honest men."

Eugenia did not smile. She merely nodded assent and, saying good-bye
pleasantly, jolted out of Kingsborough into the Old Stage Road.

"When did Mrs. Webb dine at home, Sampson?" she asked suddenly after a
long silence.

"Hit wa'n' onc't en it wa'n' twice," said Sampson thoughtfully. "Mo'
like hit wuz tree times. She done been dar monst'ous often dis yer
winter, an' de mo' she come de mo' 'ristocratical she 'pear ter git. Dar
wa'n' no placin' her, nohow. We done sot 'er by Ole Mis' Grissel w'en
she wuz 'live, an' we done sot 'er by Miss Chris, an' we done sot 'er by
Marse Tom hisse'f, an', fo' de Lawd, I ain' never seen 'er congeal yit."

But Eugenia was seeking other information. "Is Uncle Ish well? And Aunt
Verbeny, and the dogs? and did you bury Jim in the graveyard?"

"Dey's all well," replied Sampson, flicking at a horsefly on the
sorrel's back, "an' Jim, he's well en buried. Marse Tom sot up er boa'd
des' like you tell 'im."

A little later they turned into the cedar avenue, and Eugenia could see
the large white pillars of the porch.

"There they are!" she cried excitedly, and before the carriage stopped
she was up the narrow walk and in the general's arms.

"Well, daughter! daughter!" said the general. His eyes were watery, and
when Eugenia fell upon Miss Chris, he blew his nose loudly with a
nervous wave of his silk handkerchief.

"I was obliged to come," explained Eugenia. "When I got your letter
saying I might, I was so happy."

"Tom!" murmured Miss Chris reproachfully, but her eyes were shining and
she laid an affectionate hand on her brother's arm.

The general blushed like a boy.

"I told her if she'd fully made up her mind to come, I'd--I'd let her,"
he stammered shamefacedly.

"Oh, I was coming anyway!" announced Eugenia cheerfully as she was
clasped upon the bosom of Aunt Verbeny.

"Ain't you des' yo' ma all over?