"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Virginia, in an ecstacy of joy. "I shall hide and surprise him. Oh! his favorites have wilted. I will pluck fresh ones in the conservatory, and hasten back--don't tell!" and with that she flew out of the room through the portieres.

As Mrs. Harris stood alone in a contemplative mood, she said aloud to herself: "Oh, dear! These hearts of ours! How foolish they make us at times--I have often thought our Sam was a 'lady killer,' now I am sure of it."

Just then Sam Harris stepped across the piazza and entered the room.

Sam was a young man just having pa.s.sed his twenty-fourth birthday. His strong chin was indicative of fidelity to his friends, and his ma.s.s of reddish, curly hair lent expression to a jovial expression of countenance.

Sam was particularly joyous in antic.i.p.ation of meeting Virginia Thorpe. "Have you seen her, Auntie?" and he straightway opened a door leading to the library and looked in; then he closed it.

Mrs. Harris quietly watched him and became disturbed with misgivings, lest his zeal in his present frame of mind would impair the dignity she considered so essential to his enterprise as well as to the position the Harrises held in society.

It was therefore necessary to impress on him the importance of "proper" form, which she immediately undertook, and addressed him with calm stateliness.

"Now, Sam, I warn you to be careful how you greet Virginia. Remember, though but twenty-two, she is an accomplished young lady."

"Don't I know it!" he replied, with a satisfied smile.

"Don't touch the portieres, Sam! Sam!" she exclaimed in alarm, but her command was unheeded, and Sam spread them wide apart, much to his aunt's consternation.

No one being behind the portiere, she appeared amazed, but quickly recovering her composure, continued:

"Dear me! How very strange! Oh, yes, I forgot. She has gone to the conservatory." Then she muttered in low tones:

"Now I have said it, and she told me not to tell."

"Well, I'm off to the conservatory, too--eh, Auntie! Don't follow me,"

and he strode toward the piazza.

"Sam! Sam! Remain here. I have something to say to you."

"Well, be quick, Auntie. You know I am crazy to see her. Eh! I guess so."

"'Crazy!' Well, remember the least display of rudeness or unseemly eagerness will be promptly met with a frown of displeasure."

"Auntie, she's finer than the petals of a rose."

"But, like a rose, too, she is just as sensitive," cautioned Mrs.

Harris, as she majestically moved over to the mantel--and then she abruptly turned, at a fresh thought. "Sam, for the sake of our social prestige--for my own hope that your affection shall be reciprocated"--

"Love, Auntie!" interrupted Sam. "That's the word. It's short and to the point. Eh?"

Quite undisturbed by the interruption, she continued: "And for the supreme pleasure it would afford me to see the house of Harris united to the house of Thorpe, I desire that you give me an example of the manner you intend to approach Virginia."

The idea appeared so grotesque to Sam that he gave a slight inclination of his head, a habit he had somehow acquired in the "Desert," and exclaimed in startled emphasis: "Ea-Ah! How?"

"By addressing me as you would her."

With a smile broadening his face and a roguish twinkle of the eye, he exclaimed: "Can't be done, Auntie! You ain't the real thing. Can't work up any excitement over a counterfeit."

"Sam! It grieves me to say that I fear for your success. Her rejection of your suit would mean humiliation for us. Therefore I insist that you remember what I have told you and address Virginia as I shall instruct you."

Sam was too shrewd to oppose his aunt's determination--a previous experience having taught him the desirability of quietly agreeing with her notions, so with a smile of acquiescence he answered:

"All right, Auntie! Fire away."

Drawing herself up in a stately pose, she pa.s.sed to the end of the room, turned, and again faced him. "Now, Sam, I request you to impress upon your memory every word I utter, so that you may salute your lady-love in a similar manner. Do you comprehend?"

"I think so, Auntie," and thereupon thrust his hands in his trouser pockets.

"Sam, remove your hands from your pockets. It is neither good form nor in accordance with polite usage, for a gentleman to bury his hands in his trouser pockets, when in the presence of a lady."

"All right, Auntie!" and he grinned broadly as he removed the offending hands.

With a most affable smile, yet maintaining a dignified carriage, she advanced down the room, halted midway, and gracefully bowed, then continuing, extended her hand, which Sam took. She again bowed and carried his hand to her lips; then taking both his hands in hers and looking straight into his eyes, smiled and said:

"I am delighted to have the honor of congratulating Miss Thorpe on her safe return." She then released his hands and proceeded across the room.

"Is that all?" came from Sam, in a burst of dismay.

Mrs. Harris turned sharply and emphatically exclaimed: "Yes, Sam. In your conversation with Virginia beware of gushing familiarity. Nothing to my mind is more likely to jeopardize your suit than absurd vulgarity." So saying, she again turned and proceeded toward the door.

"Auntie, I can do better than that. Why, you left out the best part."

And his eyes twinkled mischieviously, while a laugh on his face was suppressed with difficulty.

She turned quickly, and in much surprise exclaimed: "Dear me! I didn't know it. What is it?"

"I will show you." With that Sam pa.s.sed to the end of the room and turned. "Now, Auntie, I'll try to think that you are my sweetheart, Virginia."

Smiling, he proceeded down the room, halted midway, bowed and then continued toward his aunt, took her right hand, clasped it between his two, and looked into her eyes. He then raised her hand to his left shoulder and while he held it there, pressed her waist with his right arm--"I am delighted to welcome you home again." Pressing her closer to him--"Believe me--I--I can never forget--that I--I,"--then he became absent-minded and, to save himself, suddenly blurted out--"I love you--there!" And he kissed her lips and embraced her vigorously. Then, with a whirl, he released her, laughing as he did so, and exclaimed: "Ah ha! I guess so, eh, Auntie?"

Mrs. Harris recovered herself, in the middle of the room, and gasped out: "Oh, dear! What a shock. I am sure I am twisted all out of shape."

Sam stood with a satisfied grin on his face, and thrust his hands in his trouser pockets, and watched her. "That was love! The real thing--eh, Auntie!"

"Dear me," she exclaimed, between her labored breathing. "I was never treated to anything so rude in my life. Your arm, Sam. a.s.sist me to the piazza. I must have more air."

"Auntie, you wait till I try it on Virginia. Oh, my! Eh!"

Meanwhile a little scene was being enacted in the conservatory, destined to produce the gravest consequences to others than those directly concerned. After examining the rare plants, Mrs. Thorpe and My Lord had pa.s.sed out to an attractive bed of ma.s.sed chrysanthemums, fringed with geraniums, then in full flower--leaving Hazel and Corway alone.

Propitious fate again granted him the opportunity he so ardently desired.

They were looking at some violet buds, concealed by giant Canna leaves and a profusion of palms, when there pa.s.sed through the girl's frame one of those mysterious thrills--which man designates magnetic, but which Providence has really made inscrutable to the human understanding.

"I wonder," she faintly exclaimed, and slowly turning her head--their lips met.

Though stolen, it was delicately done--one of those exquisite little gems of cause and effect, which naturally happen to true sweethearts.

They stood looking at each other in surprised silence.