self erect with the aid of a walking stick, a crutch handled stick of
clouded malacca, Colonel Seth Grangerson, for he it was, had come to his
front door, drawn by the sound of the one thing he detested more than
anything in life, a motor car.

"Why, Lord! He's not even in bed," cried the outraged Miss Pinckney, who
recognised him at once. "All this journey and he up and about--it beats
Seth and his impudence!"

The Colonel, whose age dimmed eyes saw nothing but the automobile, came
down the steps, panama hat in hand, courtly, freezing, yet ready to
explode on the least provocation. Within touch of the car he recognised
the chief occupant.

"Why, God bless my soul," cried he, "it's Maria Pinckney."

"Yes, it's me," said the lady, "and I expected to find you in bed or
worse, and here you are up. Silas sent me a telegram."

"He's a fool," cut in the old gentleman. "I had one of my old attacks last
night, and I told him I'd be up and about in the morning--and I am. Good
Gad! Maria, you're the last person in the world I'd ever have expected to
see in one of these outrageous things." He had opened the door of the car
and was presenting his arm to the lady.

"You can shut the door," said Miss Pinckney. "I'm not getting out. The
thing's not more outrageous than your getting up like that right after an
attack and dragging me a hundred miles from Charleston over hill and
dale--I'm not getting out, I'm going right back--right back to
Charleston."

The Colonel turned his head and called to a darkey that had appeared at
the front door.

"Take the luggage in," said he. Miss Pinckney got out of the car despite
herself, half laughing, half angry, and taking the gallantly proffered arm
found herself being led up the steps of Grangersons, pausing half way up
to introduce Phyl, whom she had completely forgotten till now.

The Colonel, like his son Silas, as will presently be seen, had a direct
way with women; the Grangersons had pretty nearly always fallen in love at
sight and run away with their wives. Colonel Seth's father had done this,
meeting, marrying and fascinating the beautiful Maria Tredegar, and
carrying her off under his arm like a hypnotised fowl, and from under the
noses of half a dozen more eligible suitors, just as now, the Colonel was
carrying Maria Pinckney off into his house half against her will. Phyl
following them, gazed round at the fine old oak panelled hall, from which
they were led into the drawing roo