possession.

He stared for a moment almost rudely at the young lady: he turned red
and pale, drew a long breath; then, with an effort, recovered himself
and bowed deeply.

Miss Cavendish was surprised; but she was too polite and self-possessed
to let her surprise appear. She mentally ascribed the disturbance of her
visitor to some passing cause.

Mr. Lyle, who had not noticed his companion's agitation, now presented
him to Laura Lytton and to Electra Coroni.

To Laura he bowed gravely and calmly.

But when he met the wild eyes of Electra he started violently and
exclaimed:

"Sal's--" then stopped abruptly, bowed and took the chair that his
friend placed for him.

He sat in perfect silence, while Emma Cavendish, pitying, without
understanding, his awkwardness, tried to make conversation by
introducing the subject of California and the gold mines.

But Victor Hartman replied with an effort, and frequently and furtively
looked at Emma, and looked at Electra, and then put his hand to his head
in a perplexed manner.

At length his embarrassment became obvious even to unobservant Mr. Lyle,
who longed for an opportunity of asking him what the matter was.

But before that opportunity came there was another ring at the street
door-bell, followed by the entrance of Dr. Jones and Alden Lytton.

The last-comers greeted the young ladies and Mr. Lyle, and acknowledged
the presence of the stranger with a distant bow.

But then Mr. Lyle arose and asked permission to introduce his friend Mr.
Brent, of California.

And Dr. Jones and Mr. Lytton shook hands with the Californian and
welcomed him to Virginia.

Then Alden Lytton, who had some dim dreams of going to California to
commence life, with the idea of one day becoming Chief Justice of the
State, began to draw the stranger out on the subject.

Victor Hartman, the unknown and unsuspected benefactor, delighted to
make the acquaintance of "his boy," and, to learn all his half-formed
wishes and purposes, talked freely and enthusiastically of the Gold
State and its resources and prospects.

"If all that I have heard about the condition of society out there be
true, however, it must be a much better place for farmers and mechanics,
tradesmen and laborers, than for professional men."

"What have you heard, then, of the condition of society out there?"
inquired Victor.

"Well, I have heard that the climate is so healthy that the well who go
there never get sick, and th