ed slightly.
Upon which the General, after another kiss of histrionic paternity
administered to her forehead, left her sitting and proceeded along
the garden walk at a stately pace, until I could no longer see him.
Hortense, left alone upon the bench, looked down at the folds of her
dress, extended a hand and slowly rearranged one of them, and then, with
the same hand, felt her hair from front to back. This had scarce been
accomplished when the General reappeared, ushering Juno along the walk,
and bearing a chair with him. When they turned the corner at the arbor,
Hortense rose, and greetings ensued. Few objects could be straighter
than was Juno's back; her card-case was in her hand, but her pocket was
not quite large enough for the whole of her pride, which stuck out so
that it could have been seen from a greater distance than my window.
The General would have departed, placing his chair for the visitor, when
Hortense waved for him an inviting hand toward the bench beside her;
he waved a similarly inviting hand, looking at Juno, who thereupon sat
firmly down upon the chair. At this the General hovered heavily, looking
at his daughter, who gave him no look in return, as she engaged in
conversation with Juno; and presently the General left them. Juno's back
and Hortense's front, both entirely motionless as they interviewed each
other' presented a stiff appearance, with Juno half turned in her seat
and Hortense's glance following her slight movement; the two then rose,
as the General came down the walk with two chairs and Mrs. Gregory and
Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael. Juno, with a bow to them, approached Hortense
by a step or two, a brief touch of their fingers was to be seen, and
Juno's departure took place, attended by the heavy hovering of General
Rieppe.

"That's why!" I said to myself aloud, suddenly, at my open window.
Immediately, however, I added, "but can it be?" And in my mind a whole
little edifice of reasons for Hortense's apparent determination to marry
John instantly fabricated itself--and then fell down.

Through John she was triumphantly bringing stiff Kings Port to her, was
forcing them to accept her. But this was scarce enough temptation for
Hortense to marry; she could do very well without Kings Port--indeed,
she was not very likely to show herself in it, save to remind them, now
and then, that she was there, and that they could not keep her out any
more; this might amuse her a little, but the society its