se, but with a slight gesture of courtesy
stood aside for the two elder men to pass and precede him. The smile
upon his lip was half bitter, half philosophic, and as they passed, he
regarded them aslant but freely. The burly, heated figure of the Colonel
was trembling with anger, while Major Edward, striving for indifference,
achieved only a wonderful, grey hauteur. They had been talking of the
drouth, and they talked on while they went by Rand, but their voices
sounded hollow like drums in a desert. They took as little outward
notice of the living man whose fate entwined with theirs as if he had
been a bleached bone upon the desert sands. They went on and, upon the
porch above, mingled with a group of friends and neighbours.

Rand put himself in motion, and he and Fairfax Cary mounted step for
step. The elder man looked aside at his companion of the moment, slender
and vigorous, boyishly handsome in his dark riding-dress. He harboured
no enmity towards the younger Cary, and for Unity he had only
admiration and affection. His mind was full of recesses, and in one of
them there hovered on bright wings a desire for the esteem of these two.
In his day-dreams he steadily conferred upon them benefits, and in
day-dreams he saw their feeling for him turn from prejudice to respect
and fondness. Now, after a moment's hesitation, he spoke. "_I_ have no
quarrel, Mr. Cary, with a happiness that all the county is glad of. Miss
Dandridge and my wife are the fondest friends. May I offer you my
congratulations?"

He had ceased to move forward, and the other paused with him. The
younger Cary was thinking, "Now if I were Ludwell, I'd accept this with
simplicity, since, damn him, in this the man's sincere." He looked at
the toe of his boot, swallowed hard, and then faced Rand with a sudden,
transfiguring brightness of mien. "I thank you, Mr. Rand. Miss Dandridge
is an angel, and I'm the happiest of men. Will you tell Mrs. Rand so,
with my best regards?" He hesitated a moment, then went on: "No sign of
rain! This weather is calamitous! I hope that Roselands has not suffered
as Greenwood has done?"

"But it has," said Rand, with a smile. "The corn is all burned, and the
entire state will make but little tobacco this year. Miss Dandridge is
better than an angel; she's a very noble woman--I wish you both long
life and happiness!"

They said no more, but mounted the remaining steps to the level above.
Fairfax Cary joined the two Churchills