ive
to the mute appeal in the dark eyes that were lifted to her own
with such modest fear and wonder. Now her surprise at her brother's
infatuation was abating rapidly. The girl's adoration of him, her wild
beauty, her strange winning personality--as rare and as independent of
birth and circumstances as genius--had soon made that phenomenon plain.
And now what was to be done? The girl was quick, observant, imitative,
docile, and in the presence of strangers, her gravity of manner gave
the impression of uncanny self-possession. It really seemed as though
anything might be possible. At Helen's suggestion, then, the three
stayed where they were for a week, for June's wardrobe was sadly in need
of attention. So the week was spent in shopping, driving, and walking,
and rapidly as it passed for Helen and Hale it was to June the longest
of her life, so filled was it with a thousand sensations unfelt by them.
The city had been stirred by the spirit of the new South, but the charm
of the old was distinct everywhere. Architectural eccentricities had
startled the sleepy maple-shaded rows of comfortable uniform dwellings
here and there, and in some streets the life was brisk; but it was
still possible to see pedestrians strolling with unconscious good-humour
around piles of goods on the sidewalk, business men stopping for a
social chat on the streets, street-cars moving independent of time,
men invariably giving up their seats to women, and, strangers or not,
depositing their fare for them; the drivers at the courteous personal
service of each patron of the road--now holding a car and placidly
whistling while some lady who had signalled from her doorway went back
indoors for some forgotten article, now twisting the reins around the
brakes and leaving a parcel in some yard--and no one grumbling! But what
was to Hale an atmosphere of amusing leisure was to June bewildering
confusion. To her his amusement was unintelligible, but though in
constant wonder at everything she saw, no one would ever have suspected
that she was making her first acquaintance with city scenes. At first
the calm unconcern of her companions had puzzled her. She could not
understand how they could walk along, heedless of the wonderful visions
that beckoned to her from the shop-windows; fearless of the strange
noises about them and scarcely noticing the great crowds of people,
or the strange shining vehicles that thronged the streets. But she had
quickly concluded