he South has been discontinued?" asked
Homer.

"I came as I came before," replied Horatio.

"You came in the Bellevite!" exclaimed Homer.

"I did."

"But how did you get by the forts? Both of them have been garrisoned,
and they have been ordered to allow no vessel to pass unless she give
a good account of herself," continued the planter.

"In other words, it is war now," added Horatio.

"Undoubtedly it is war; and, in my judgment, it will be a terrible
conflict before it is finished."

"I fully agree with you, Homer."

"But you did not tell me in what manner you passed the two forts, which
are already strong enough to blow your steamer into a thousand pieces,"
suggested Homer.

"I did not tell you, and I think we had better understand each other a
little better before I say any thing at all about the passage of the
forts; though I can assure you that not a single shot was fired at the
Bellevite," said Horatio, somewhat embarrassed by the situation.

"De lunch am ready, saw," said a darky at the door at this moment; and
perhaps the summons saved the owner of the Bellevite from some further
annoyance.

An hour was spent at the table, for there was enough to talk about
without meddling with delicate subjects. When the repast was over,
Florry invited her brother to look at the flower-garden, which was
in the height of its glory, and she was followed by Gerty her cousin,
and by Mrs. Passford. As in the Northern family, there were only two
children; but Cornelius, or Corny as he was generally called, was not
at home, though nothing at all was said about him.

Horatio was invited into the library by his brother, and they seated
themselves for a long talk. The owner of the Bellevite was confident
that he should soon know on which side the planter belonged, though he
was still confident in his former views.

"I suppose there is no other way for you to get here at the present
time except in your yacht, and not many men can command so elegant
and substantial a vessel as the Bellevite," said Homer, when they were
seated. "But what in the world do you expect to do with her down here?"

"I intend to return to my home in her, and to take my daughter back to
her mother," replied Horatio, as unmoved as though he had uttered a
commonplace expression.

"Take Florry back to her mother!" exclaimed Homer, springing out of his
armchair as though his five-and-forty years counted for nothing. "I hope
that nothing at all is t