to the gardens of the house she came from, and will
hide there till we see her alone in the garden. Then I will sally
forth, and see how she takes it."

Accordingly, that night, after obtaining their supply of fruit, the
boys entered the enclosure When morning broke there was speedily a
stir, negroes and negresses went out to the fields, servants moved
hither and thither in the veranda outside the house, gardeners came
out and set to work at their vocations.

It was evident that the owner or his family was fond of gardening,
for everything was kept with beautiful order and regularity. Mixed
with the cactus, and other gaudy-flowering plants of Mexico and
South America, were many European plants, brought out and
acclimatized. Here fountains threw up dancing waters in the air,
cool shady paths and bowers afforded protection from the heat of
the day; and so carefully was it clipped, and kept, that a fallen
leaf would have destroyed its perfection.

The point which the boys had chosen was remote from the house, for
it was of importance that there should be no witnesses of the
meeting. Here, in a spacious arbor, were chairs, couches, and other
signs that some of the family were in the habit of taking their
seats there; and although the boys knew that it might be days
before they succeeded in carrying out their object, yet they
determined to wait, and watch patiently, however long it might be.

Their success, however, surpassed their expectations; for it was
but an hour or two after they had taken up their post, and soon
after the sun had risen, that they saw, walking along the path, the
young lady whom they so desired to meet. She was not alone, for a
black girl walked a little behind her, chatting constantly to her,
and carrying some books, a shawl, and various other articles. When
they reached the arbor the attendant placed the things there, and
then, as she took her seat, the young lady said to the girl:

"Go in and fetch me my coffee here. Say I shall not come in until
breakfast time, and that if any orders are required, they must come
here for them."

"Will you want me to read to you?"

"No," the young lady said. "It is not hot. I shall take a turn
round the garden, first, and then read to myself."

The black girl went off at a trot towards the house, and the young
lady strolled round and round that portion of the garden, until her
black attendant returned, with a tray containing coffee, lemonade,
and fruits.