THAT one, but I did THIS when I saw the address. It was as
I expected, and yo' 'd given yo'self away! For if yo' had those soldiers
down here, yo' 'd have a row, sure! Don't move, co'nnle, YO' may not
care for that, it's in YO'R line. But folks will say that the soldiers
weren't sent to prevent RIOTING, but that Co'nnle Courtland was using
his old comrades to keep order on his property at Gov'ment expense. Hol'
on! Hol' on! co'nnle," said the little figure, rising and waving its
pretty arms with a mischievous simulation of terrified deprecation.
"Don't shoot! Of course yo' didn't mean THAT, but that's about the way
that So'th'n men will put it to yo'r Gov'ment. For," she continued, more
gently, yet with the shrewdest twinkle in her gray eyes, "if yo' really
thought the niggers might need Federal protection, yo' 'd have let ME
write to the commandant to send an escort--not to YO, but to CATO--that
HE might be able to come back in safety. Yo' 'd have had yo'r soldiers;
I'd have had back my nigger, which"--demurely--"yo' don't seem to worry
yo'self much about, co'nnle; and there isn't a So'th'n man would have
objected. But," still more demurely, and affectedly smoothing out her
crisp skirt with her little hands, "yo' haven't been troubling me much
with yo'r counsel lately."

A swift and utterly new comprehension swept over Courtland. For the
first time in his knowledge of her he suddenly grasped what was,
perhaps, the true conception of her character. Looking at her clearly
now, he understood the meaning of those pliant graces, so unaffected
and yet always controlled by the reasoning of an unbiased intellect; her
frank speech and plausible intonations! Before him stood the true-born
daughter of a long race of politicians! All that he had heard of their
dexterity, tact, and expediency rose here incarnate, with the added
grace of womanhood. A strange sense of relief--perhaps a dawning of
hope--stole over him.

"But how will this insure Cato's safety hereafter, or give protection to
the others?" he said, fixing his eyes upon her.

"The future won't concern YO' much, co'nnle, if as yo' say here yo'r
resignation is sent in, and yo'r successor appointed," she replied, with
more gravity than she had previously shown.

"But you do not think I will leave YOU in this uncertainty," he said
passionately. He stopped suddenly, his brow darkened. "I forgot," he
added coldly, "you will be well protected. Your--COUSIN--will give you
th