ed at the Hill
Farm by the black page, in red plush for contrast, and shown up to his
room. He usually wore clothes of simple character and left the changing
fashions to others. But this time he dressed as he did rarely, and came
down with powdered hair, in maroon-colored velvet with enameled buttons,
ruffles at the wrists, and the full lace neck-gear still known as a
Steenkirk.

Miss Gainor envied him the gold buckles of the broidered garters and
shoes, and made her best courtesy to the stately figure which bent low
before her.

"They are late," she said. "Go and speak to Margaret in the garden." He
found her alone under a great tulip-tree.

"_Ach!_" he cried, "you are looking better. You were pale." She rose
with a glad welcome as he saw and wondered. "How fine we are, Pearl!"

"Are we not? But Aunt Gainor would have it. I must courtesy, I suppose."

The dress was a compromise. There were still the gray silks, the
underskirt, open wider than common in front, a pale sea-green petticoat,
and, alas! even powder--very becoming it seemed to the German gentleman.
I am helpless to describe the prettiness of it. Aunt Gainor had an
artist's eye, though she herself delighted in too gorgeous attire.

He gave Margaret the home news and his message from Rene, and no; she
was not yet to come to town. It was too hot, and not very healthy this
summer.

"Why did not the vicomte write?" she said with some hesitation. "That
would have been nicer."

"_Ach, guter Himmel!_ Young men do not write to young women."

"But among Friends we are more simple."

"_Ach_, Friends--and in this gown! Shall we be of two worlds? That might
have its convenience."

"Thou art naughty, sir," she said, and they went in.

There was Colonel Lennox and his wife, whom Schmidt had not met, and
Josiah. "You know Mrs. Byrd, Mr. Schmidt? Mrs. Eager Howard, may I
present to you Mr. Schmidt?" This was the Miss Chew who won the heart of
the victor of the Cowpens battle; and last came Jefferson, tall, meager,
red-cheeked, and wearing no powder, a lean figure in black velvet, on a
visit to the city.

"There were only two good noses," said Gainor next day to a woman with
the nose of a pug dog--"mine and that man Schmidt's--Schmidt, with a
nose like a hawk and a jaw most predacious."

For mischief she must call Mr. Jefferson "Excellency," for had he not
been governor of his State?

He bowed, laughing. "Madame, I have no liking for titles. Not even those