been stricken. Uncomprehending, she stood a moment
speechless, then crept back noiselessly to bed.

II

"Neva to See You!"

Therese judged it best to leave Fanny a good deal to herself during
her first days on the plantation, without relinquishing a certain
watchful supervision of her comfort, and looking in on her for a few
moments each day. The rain which had come with them continued fitfully
and Fanny remained in doors, clad in a warm handsome gown, her small
slippered feet cushioned before the fire, and reading the latest novel
of one of those prolific female writers who turn out their unwholesome
intellectual sweets so tirelessly, to be devoured by the girls and
women of the age.

Melicent, who always did the unexpected, crossed over early on the
morning after Fanny's arrival; penetrated to her sleeping room and
embraced her effusively, even as she lay in bed, calling her "poor
dear Fanny" and cautioning her against getting up on such a morning.

The tears which had come to Fanny on arriving, and which had dried on
her cheek when she turned to gaze into the cheer of the great wood
fire, did not return. Everybody seemed to be making much of her, which
was a new experience in her life; she having always felt herself as of
little consequence, and in a manner, overlooked. The negroes were
overawed at the splendor of her toilettes and showed a respect for her
in proportion to the money value which these toilettes reflected. Each
morning Gregoire left at her door his compliments with a huge bouquet
of brilliant and many colored crysanthemums, and enquiry if he could
serve her in any way. And Hosmer's time, that was not given to work,
was passed at her side; not in brooding or pre-occupied silence, but
in talk that invited her to friendly response.

With Therese, she was at first shy and diffident, and over watchful of
herself. She did not forget that Hosmer had told her "The lady knows
why I have come" and she resented that knowledge which Therese
possessed of her past intimate married life.

Melicent's attentions did not last in their ultra-effusiveness, but
she found Fanny less objectionable since removed from her St. Louis
surroundings; and the evident consideration with which she had been
accepted at Place-du-Bois seemed to throw about her a halo of
sufficient distinction to impel the girl to view her from a new and
different stand-point.

But the charm of plantation life was letting go its hold up