ld not answer. Mr.
Cardross joined us, divining the subject of our furtive confab in
the _patio_, and he seemed to think that you ought to come.

"There is no reason to hesitate in saying that the family would
be very glad to count you as one of them. Even a little snob like
myself can see that there is, in this desire of theirs, no motive
except affection for you and for Shiela; and, in a way, it's
rather humiliating to recognise that they don't care a fig for
the social advantage that must, automatically, accrue to the
House of Cardross through such connections.

"I never thought that I should so earnestly hope for such an
alliance for you; but I do, Garry. They are such simple folk with
all their riches--simple as gentle folk--kind, sincere, utterly
without self-consciousness, untainted by the sordid social
ambitions which make so many of the wealthy abhorrent. There is
no pretence about them, nothing of that uncertainty of self
mingled with vanity which grows into arrogance or servility as
the social weather-vane veers with the breeze of fashion. Rather
flowery that, for an old-fashioned spinster.

"But, dear, there are other flowers than those of speech eloquent
in the soft Southern air--flowers everywhere outside my open
window where I sit writing you.

"I miss Virginia, but Shiela compensates when she can find time
from her breathless pleasure chase to give me an hour or two at
tea-time.

"And Cecile, too, is very charming, and I know she likes me. Such
a coquette! She has her own court among the younger set; and from
her very severe treatment of young Gatewood on all occasions I
fancy she may be kinder to him one day.

"Mrs. Carrick is not here this winter, her new baby keeping her
in town; and Acton, of course, is only too happy to remain with
her.

"As for Gray, he is a nice boy--a little slow, a trifle shy and
retiring and over-studious; but his devotion to Shiela makes me
love him. And he, too, ventured to ask me whether you were not
coming down this winter to hunt along the Everglades with him and
Little Tiger.

"So, dear, I think perhaps you had better come. It really
frightens me to give you this advice. I could not endure it if
anything went wrong--if your coming proved premature.

"For it is true, Garry, that I love our little Shiela with all my
aged, priggish, and prej