conventional
ceremonies were waived between herself and the lady of the isle.

"You came from Marietta; were you agreeably entertained there?"

"They lionized father."

"No; they 'snaked' me. I was dragged into service by main force."

"Father means that they insisted on his drilling the militia. We
arrived on a muster day, and nothing would do but he must prove the
right to his rank by explaining the manual of arms. There are ever so
many old soldiers in Marietta."

"Yes, I drilled the men as soldiers, in the afternoon, and she drilled
them as captives, in the evening, at the ball; a modified fan-drill
made them march to her orders. Theodosia danced with at least a dozen
distinguished citizens."

"How many wives, widows, spinsters and school-girls did you lead up
and down?" retorted Theodosia.

"I don't know; I didn't count; I dance for politeness, not for
victory. My daughter has a drop of coquette's blood in her veins;
though where it came from I can't imagine. Do you recollect,
Theodosia, the remark of the Mayor of New York, when he invited you to
go on board a war vessel? 'Don't bring any of your sparks on board,
for they have a magazine and we should all be blown up.'"

To the ponderous mind of Mr. Blennerhassett, the feather-light
badinage flying back and forth between Mrs. Alston and her sire,
smacked of unbecoming levity. He had looked up a topic for weightier
talk.

"Did you name your daughter, may I ask, Colonel Burr, anticipating
extraordinary rank for her? Had you in mind Theodosius the First,
called the Great, or the second and more famous emperor of the name?
Eudosia was a Roman empress, wife of the second Theodosius. She was a
poetess."

The man of facts glanced significantly toward his own wife, and
resumed:

"Perhaps you had the name Eudosia vaguely in your memory when you
chose the name Theodosia. History informs us that Theodosius was
controlled by his wife and by his sister Pulcheria."

"My Theodosia was so christened," answered Burr, "because I like the
name. It sounds well. I like it the better now that you tell us it
suggests a possibility of imperial sway. Who knows what may come to
pass?"

In anticipation of the third advent of Burr to the island, many
letters had been exchanged, and it was arranged that, for some months
at least, "the close contriver" of the vast enterprise in hand should
remain with Theodosia and Don Gampillo in the mansion, the island
being an eligible po