ief in them.

"'Something wrong I see. That girl will keep things stirring wherever
she is; knows a heap, and far too handsome for my plantation; glad to
get rid of her, if the truth must be told. Women folks were fools enough
to teach her to read and write, after that she took the bits into her
own mouth, and learned every thing. What do you think I would do with a
fancy slave like that?'

"'Father, you cannot see, but General Harrington is coming,' said Miss
Eaton.

"'Oh, ho! my old friend, how is the lady?'

"'Mrs. Harrington is quite well, the voyage has done her a world of
good, long enough for a chance at health you understand. That is why we
selected a sailing vessel. It isn't going to sea at all when you get
into the steamers. Where is James? I thought he came this way, his
mother wants him.'

"'Oh, I am to blame, I drove him off talking about that girl Zillah.'

"'Come this way,' said the General hastily, 'I wish to surprise Mrs.
Harrington, she will be rejoiced to know that you are here.'

"They went away together. I saw General Harrington stop his friend after
they got out of hearing, and talk with him earnestly as if expostulating
about something. Then I saw Mr. Eaton clap his hand on the General's
shoulders, nod his head half a dozen times, and move on as if some
matter had been amicably settled between them. From that day, I never
heard Mr. Eaton mention the girl Zillah again. Was it because James
Harrington seemed so displeased with the subject?

"I was left alone with the young lady, who seemed so sweet and good that
it was impossible to look upon her with anything but kindness. Yet I
never turned towards her without a nervous thrill that almost held my
breath; every line of her face, and graceful curve of her form, seemed
burned on my memory from the first moment I saw her. Was this jealousy?
What had I to be jealous of? A fair girl whom he had known well, and was
pleased to see in a strange country, where friends are few and unusually
welcome, surely I am not so weak or wild as to give myself up to an
unreasonable and unreasoning fancy like that."

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THAT SPANISH NOBLEMAN.

"Miss Eaton was enthusiastic about the scenery of the river, as the boat
swept over its amber-hued waves, and the scenery became more and more
Arcadian. She was a little romantic too, and fell into some childish
affectations, that gave me a fair excuse for not thinking her perfect.
Upon the boat w