ure, barred
and golden, and thought suddenly of the bees about the mimosa on the
Three-Notched Road.

A middle-aged gentleman, of a responsible and benevolent cast of
countenance, came up to her. "A very good day to you, my dear Mrs.
Rand!"

"And to you, Colonel Nicholas."

"You are of my mind. You do not care to dilly-dally after church. 'Tis
as bad as a London rout, where you move an inch an hour. Well, there are
men here to-day who have made some stir in the world! Do you go
to-morrow to the Capitol?"

"Yes. My cousin and I have seats with Mrs. Wickham."

"It will not be such a trial as was Warren Hastings's. Yet it will have
its value both to the eye and the ear. If it were possible, I would have
there every young boy in town. Is Mr. Rand at home?"

"No. He is in Williamsburgh for several days."

The gentleman hesitated. "Vexatious! I have something for his own hand,
and I myself go out of town after to-morrow. It may be important--"

"Cannot I give it to him?"

"It is a small packet, or letter, from the President. He sent it to me
by a private messenger, with a note asking me to do him the friendly
service to place it directly in Mr. Rand's hand. I have it with me, as
I thought I might meet Mr. Rand here."

"He will hardly return before Wednesday. When he comes, I will give him
the letter with pleasure."

The other took from his pocket a thick letter, strongly sealed, and
addressed in Jefferson's fine, precise hand. "I must be away from
Richmond for a week or more, and the matter may be important. I can
conceive no reason why, so that it be put directly into Mr. Rand's hand,
one agent should be better than another. I'll confide it to you, Mrs.
Rand."

"I will do as the President directs, Colonel Nicholas, and will give it
to my husband the moment he returns."

She put out her hand, and he laid the packet in it. Hanging from her arm
by a rose-coloured ribbon was a small bag of old brocade. This she
opened, and slipped into the silken depths the President's somewhat
heavy missive. "He shall have it on Wednesday," she said.

The dispersing congregation touched and claimed them. Mr. Wirt and
Commodore Truxtun bore off her companion, and she herself, after a
moment of gay talk with all the Randolphs, rejoined Unity and her court.
Fairfax Cary called their coach, and Captain Decatur and Mr. Irving and
Mr. Scott saw them in, and still talked at the lowered windows until Big
Isham on the box, with a loud