t thing that she said was
that I was to bring you. Ludwell, I want to say that not even Unity,
though I love her so much, could ever make me love you an iota the less.
You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know, Fair," said the other from the great chair. "We are
friends as well as brothers. I'm as glad for your happiness as if it
were my own, and I'll ride with you to Fontenoy to kiss my new sister.
You've both chosen wisely, and it's a great day for Greenwood! Stop that
striding here and there like an ecstatic lion! Sit down and tell me all
about it again. The wine's good, and I'll light more candles. There!"

"You're the best fellow in the world, Ludwell," said the younger
gratefully. "She had on a gown with little flowers all over a yellowy
ground, and there was a curl that came down on her white neck--and when
I had gone away forever and then felt her hand upon my arm, it was like
a sword-stroke opening Paradise. It isn't really late, is it? I could
talk till dawn!"

CHAPTER XVIII

THE GREEN DOOR

The coach of Mrs. Jane Selden entered Charlottesville at nine in the
morning, and did not turn homeward again until the afternoon stood at
four. The intermediate hours were diligently used by the small and
withered lady in plum-coloured silk and straw bonnet, scarf of striped,
apple-green gauze, and turkey-feather fan. She came to town but once in
three months, and made of each visit a field day. Every store was called
at, for buying must be done for herself and her plantation to last until
Christmas-tide. Lutestring, calico, chintz and prunella, linsey and
osnaburg; gilt-edged paper, sticks of wax, and fine black ink; drugs of
sorts, bohea, spice, and china were bought and bestowed in brown paper
parcels in corners of a vehicle ample as Cinderella's pumpkin coach,
while Jamaica sugar and Java coffee, old rum, molasses, salt and
vinegar, hardware, kitchen things, needs of the quarter, and all heavy
matters were left to be called for by her wagon next day. Shopping over,
she took dinner with an ancient friend, and afterwards called upon the
doctor and the minister. The post-office came next in order, and then
the blacksmith, for one of her four sleepy coach horses had cast a shoe.
The fault remedied, she looked at her watch. "Half-past three. Stop at
the green door, Gabriel."

Coach and four made a wide turn, swung drowsily down the main street,
and drew up before a one-story brick building with a green door a