never once flagged with these good friends; for,
aside from much neighborhood gossip to be told and listened to, there
was the always fertile topic of "crops" to be discussed in all its
bearings, that touched, in its local and restricted sense, the labor
question, cultivation, freight rates, and the city merchant.

With Mrs. Duplan there was a good deal to be said about the unusual
mortality among "Plymouth-Rocks" owing to an alarming prevalence of
"pip," which malady, however, that lady found to be gradually yielding
to a heroic treatment introduced into her _basse-cour_ by one Coulon,
a piney wood sage of some repute as a mystic healer.

This was a delicate refined little woman, somewhat old-fashioned and
stranded in her incapability to keep pace with the modern conduct of
life; but giving her views with a pretty self-confidence, that showed
her a ruler in her peculiar realm.

The young Ninette had extended herself in an easy chair, in an
attitude of graceful abandonment, the earnest brown eyes looking
eagerly out from under a tangle of auburn hair, and resting with
absorbed admiration upon her father, whose words and movements she
followed with unflagging attentiveness. The fastidious little miss was
clad in a dainty gown that reached scarcely below the knees; revealing
the shapely limbs that were crossed and extended to let the well shod
feet rest upon the polished brass fender.

Therese had given what information lay within her range, concerning
the company which was expected. But her confidences had plainly been
insufficient to prepare Mrs. Duplan for the startling effect produced
by Mrs. Worthington on that little woman in her black silk of a
by-gone fashion; so splendid was Mrs. Worthington's erect and imposing
figure, so blonde her blonde hair, so bright her striking color and so
comprehensive the sweep of her blue and scintillating gown. Yet was
Mrs. Worthington not at ease, as might be noticed in the unnatural
quaver of her high-pitched voice and the restless motion of her hands,
as she seated herself with an arm studiedly resting upon the table
near by.

Hosmer had met the Duplans before; on the occasion of a former visit
to Place-du-Bois and again at Les Chenieres when he had gone to see
the planter on business connected with the lumber trade.

Fanny was a stranger to them and promised to remain such; for she
acknowledged her presentation with a silent bow and retreated as far
from the group as a dec