ival," said Carlos. "It might agitate
him too much if you walked in without being announced. In the meantime,
you will find my mother and sisters in yonder room. As the windows look
up the river, they did not perceive your arrival.--Go and tell the
ladies that Captain Kearney and his son have arrived," said Carlos to
one of the blacks, who appeared to be a butler or major-domo.

By this time I had been able to observe my young cousin. His figure was
small but well built, his features regular, his complexion and black
hair showing his Spanish descent. He seemed to be wonderfully
self-possessed, and his manners were those, as far as I could judge, of
a well-bred young gentleman. That Carlos might have time to prepare
Uncle Nicholas for our arrival, we followed the servant into the
sitting-room.

"Who do you say?" asked a voice in Spanish, as the black announced us.

The man had time to repeat what he had said before we advanced. On
entering the room we saw three ladies, the eldest one with a
spinning-wheel by her side, the other two, evidently my young cousins,
busily plying their needles.

On hearing our names, the two girls, jumping from their seats, hurried
forward to meet us, exclaiming, "Uncle Michael!--Cousin Maurice!" and as
they did so, they presented their fair cheeks to be kissed.

The elderly lady rose more leisurely, and with stately politeness
welcomed us to Castle Kearney. "My husband will indeed rejoice to see
you," she said in very good English. "He has been a sad invalid for a
long time, and keeps much to his own room. He told us that he had
written to you, and was sure that you would come if you were able, so
that we had begun to look out for your arrival, though we scarcely
expected that you could reach us so soon. He is full of anxiety about
the present and future of the country, which, owing to the warlike
character of the natives, he considers to be in a more alarming
condition than most settlers will allow; hence the fortified state of
our dwelling-house, with which you must have been struck as you
approached."

My father replied that he considered his brother had shown wisdom in
protecting his family against any attack which might be made on the
house by the Indians. He then explained how we had been fortunate in
finding a vessel sailing for Savannah, and had come on without a
moment's delay. My cousins and I were soon engaged in a lively
conversation, they rapidly asking questi