is hostess to the green-striped sofa, and seated himself
beside her with a sigh of appreciation for the warmth and soft light of
the pleasant room, and the presence of woman. "Your harp!" he exclaimed.
"I should have brought a sheaf of Spanish songs such as the ladies sing
to the guitar in New Orleans!--My dear sir, your fair wife and my
Theodosia must one day sing together, walk hand in hand together, in
that richer, sweeter land! They shall use the mantilla and wield the
fan. Crowns are too heavy--they shall wear black lace!"

He spoke with not unpleasant brusqueness, a military manner tempered
with gallantry, and he looked at Rand with quick black eyes. "Yes, they
must meet," said Rand simply. He spoke composedly, but he had
nevertheless a moment's vision of Jacqueline, away from the snow and the
storm, walking in beauty through the gardens of a far country. He saw
her with a circlet of gold upon her head, a circlet of Mexican gold.
Crowns were heavy, but men--ay, and women, too!--fought for them. Hers
should be light and fanciful upon her head. She should wear black lace
if she chose,--though always he liked her best in white, in her kingdom,
in the kingdom he was going to help Aaron Burr establish.--No! in the
kingdom Aaron Burr should help Lewis Rand establish! His dream broke. He
was not sure that he meant to come to an understanding with Burr. It
depended--it depended. But still he saw Jacqueline in trailing robes,
with the gold circlet on her head.

Joab at the door announced supper, and the three went into the
dining-room, where the red geraniums glowed between the candles.
Jacqueline took her place behind the coffee-urn, and Joab waited.

The meal went pleasantly on. Colonel Burr was accomplished in
conversation, now supple and insinuating as a courtier, now direct,
forceful, even plain, as became an old soldier of the Revolution, always
agreeable, and always with a fine air of sincerity. The daughter of
Henry Churchill did not lack wit, charm, and proper fire, and the
Virginia hostess never showed her private feelings to a guest. She
watched over the stranger's comfort with soft care, and met his talk
with graceful readiness. He spoke to her of her family: of her
grandfather, whose name had been widely known, of her father, whose
praises he had heard sung, of Major Churchill, whom he had met in
Philadelphia in General Washington's time. He spoke of her kinsmen with
an admiration which went far toward inclu