arnished with curtains of silk
damask and muslin, corresponding to the colour of the wood-work. A
table richly inlaid was near the centre of the floor, another, with
_portefeuille_, pens, and ornamental ink stand, stood by the wall, and
over this last was a collection of books ranged upon shelves of red
cedar-wood. A handsome clock adorned the mantelpiece; and in the open
fireplace was a pair of small "andirons," with silver knobs, cast after
a fanciful device, and richly chased. Of course, there was no fire at
that season of the year. Even the heat caused by the mosquito bar would
have been annoying, but that the large glass-door on one side, and the
window on the other, both standing open, gave passage to the breeze that
penetrated through the nettings of my couch.

Along with this breeze came the most delicious fragrance--the essence of
flowers. Through both door and window I could see their thousand
clustering corollas--roses, red, pink, and white--the rare camelia--
azaleas, and jessamines--the sweet-scented China-tree--and farther off a
little I could distinguish the waxen leaves and huge lily-like blossoms
of the great American laurel--the _Magnolia grandiflora_. I could hear
the voices of many singing-birds, and a low monotonous hum that I
supposed to be the noise of falling water. These were the only sounds
that reached my ears.

Was I alone? I looked inquiringly around the chamber. It appeared so--
no living thing met my glance.

I was struck with a peculiarity in the apartment I occupied. It
appeared to stand by itself, and did not communicate with any other!
The only door I could see, opened directly to the outside. So did the
window, reaching door-like to the ground. Both appeared to lead into a
garden filled with shrubs and flowers. Excepting the chimney, I could
perceive no other inlet or outlet to the apartment!

This at first seemed odd; but a moment's reflection explained it. It is
not uncommon upon American plantations to have a kind of office or
summer-house apart from the main building, and often fitted up in a
style of comfort and luxuriance. This becomes upon occasions the
"stranger's room." Perhaps I was in such an apartment.

At all events, I was under an hospitable roof, and in good hands; that
was evident. The manner in which I was encouched, along with certain
preparations,--the signs of a projected _dejeuner_ that appeared upon
the table, attested this. But who was my