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etrating　and　quiet　sadness。　I　only　know　that　this　is　the　perpetual　mood　of　those　Southern　shores；　those　rivers　that　wind　in　from　the　ocean　among　their　narrowing　marshes　and　their　hushed　forests；　and　that　it　does　not　come　from　any　memory　of　human　hopes　and　disasters；　but　from　the　elements　themselves。

So　did　we　move　onward；　passing　in　due　time　another　bridge　and　a　few　dwellings　and　some　excavations；　until　the　river　grew　quite　narrow；　and　there　ahead　was　the　landing　at　Live　Oaks；　with　negroes　idly　watching　for　us；　and　a　launch　beside　the　bank；　and　Charley　and　Hortense　Rieppe　about　to　step　into　it。　Another　man　stood　up　in　the　launch　and　talked　to　them　where　they　were　on　the　landing　platform；　and　pointed　down　the　river　as　we　approached；　but　evidently　he　did　not　point　at　us。　I　looked　hastily　to　see　what　he　was　indicating　to　them；　but　I　could　see　nothing　save　the　solitary　river　winding　away　between　the　empty　woods　and　marshes。

So　this　was　Hortense　Rieppe！　It　was　not　wonderful　that　she　had　caused　young　John　to　lose　his　heart；　or；　at　any　rate；　his　head　and　his　senses；　nor　was　it　wonderful　that　Charley；　with　his　little　bulging　eyes；　should　take　her　in　his　launch　whenever　she　would　go；　the　wonderful　thing　was　that　John；　at　his　age　and　with　his　nature；　should　have　got　over　itif　he　had　got　over　it！　I　felt　it　tingling　in　me；　any　man　would。　Steel　wasp　indeed！

She　was　slender；　and　oh；　how　well　dressed！　She　watched　the　passengers　get　off　the　boat；　and　I　could　not　tell　you　from　that　first　sight　of　her　what　her　face　was　like；　but　only　her　hair；　the　sunburnt　amber　of　its　masses　making　one　think　of　Tokay　or　Chateau…Yquem。　She　was　watching　me；　I　felt；　and　then　saw；　and　as　soon　as　I　was　near　she　spoke　to　me　without　moving；　keeping　one　gloved　hand　lightly　posed　upon　the　railing　of　the　platform；　so　that　her　long　arm　was　bent　with　perfect　ease　and　grace。　I　swear　that　none　but　a　female　eye　could　have　detected　any　toboggan　fire…escape。

Her　words　dropped　with　the　same　calculated　deliberation；　the　same　composed　and　rich　indifference。　〃These　gardens　are　so　beautiful。〃

Such　was　her　first　remark；　chosen　with　some　purpose；　I　knew　quite　well；　and　I　observed　that　I　hoped　I　was　not　too　late　for　their　full　perfection；　if　too　late　to　visit　them　in　her　company。

She　turned　her　head　slightly　toward　Charley。　〃We　have　been　enjoying　them　so　much。〃

It　was　of　absorbing　interest　to　feel　simultaneously　in　these　brief　speeches　he　vouchsafedspeeches　consummate　in　their　inexpressive　flatnessthe　intentional　coldness　and　the　latent　heat　of　the　creature。　Since　Natchez　and　Mobile　（or　whichever　of　them　it　had　been　that　had　witnessed　her　beginnings）　she　had　encountered　many　men　and　women；　those　who　could　be　of　use　to　her　and　those　who　could　not；　and　in　dealing　with　them　she　had　tempered　and　chiselled　her　insolence　to　a　perfect　instrument；　to　strike　or　to　shield。　And　of　her　greatest　gift；　also；　she　was　entirely　awarehow　could　she　help　being；　with　her　evident　experience？　　She　knew　that　round　her　whole　form　swam　a　delicious；　invisible　sphere；　a　distillation　that　her　veriest　self　sent　forth；　as　gardenias　do　their　perfume；　moving　where　she　moved　and　staying　where　she　stayed；　and　compared　with　which　wine　was　a　feeble　vapor　for　a　man　to　get　drunk　on。

〃Flowers　are　always　so　delightful。〃

That　was　her　third　speech；　pronounced　just　like　the　others；　in　a　low；　clear　voicesimplicity　arrived　at　by　much　well…practiced　complexity。　And　she　still　looked　at　Charley。

Charley　now　responded　in　his　little　banker　accent。　〃It　is　a　magnificent　collection。〃　This　he　said　looking　at　me；　and　moving　a　highly　polished　finger…nail　along　a　very　slender　mustache。

The　eyes　of　Hortense　now　for　a　moment　glanced　at　the　mixed　company　of　boat…passengers；　who　were　beginning　to　be　led　off　in　pilgrim　groups　by　the　appointed　guides。

〃We　were　warned　it　would　be　too　crowded；〃　she　remarked。

Charley　was　looking　at　her　foot。　I　can't　say　whether　or　not　the　two　light　taps　that　the　foot　now　gave　upon　the　floor　of　the　landing　brought　out　for　me　a　certain　impatience　which　I　might　otherwise　have　missed　in　those　last　words　of　hers。　From　Charley　it　brought　out；　I　feel　quite　sure；　the　speech　which　（in　some　form）　she　had　been　expecting　from　him　as　her　confederate　in　this　unwelcome　and　inopportune　interview　with　me；　and　which　his　less　highly　schooled　perceptions　had　not　suggested　to　him　until　prompted　by　her。

〃I　should　have　been　very　glad　to　include　you　in　our　launch　party　if　I　had　known　you　were　coming　here　to…day；〃　lied　little　Charley。

〃Thank　you　so　much！〃　I　murmured；　and　I　fancy　that　after　this　Hortense　hated　me　worse　than　ever。　Well；　why　should　I　play　her　game？　If　anybody　had　any　claim　upon　me；　was　it　she？　I　would　get　as　much　diversion　as　I　could　from　this　encounter。

Hortense　had　looked　at　Charley　when　she　spoke　for　my　benefit；　and　it　now　pleased　me　very　much　to　look　at　him　when　I　spoke　for　hers。

〃I　could　almost　give　up　the　gardens　for　the　sake　of　returning　with　you；〃　I　said　to　him。

This　was　most　successful　in　producing　a　perceptible　silence　before　Hortense　said；　〃Do　come。〃

I　wanted　to　say　to　her；　〃You　are　quite　splendidas　splendid　as　you　look；　through　and　through！　You　wouldn't　have　run　away　from　any　battle　of　Chattanooga！〃　But　what　I　did　say　was；　〃These　flowers　here　will　fade；　but　may　I　not　hope　to　see　you　again　in　Kings　Port？〃

She　was　looking　at　me　with　eyes　half　closed；　half　closed　for　the　sake　of　insolenceand　better　observation；　when　eyes　like　that　take　on　drowsiness；　you　will　be　wise　to　leave　all　your　secrets　behind　you；　locked　up　in　the　bank；　or　else　toss　them　right　down　on　the　open　table。　Well；　I　tossed　mine　down；　thereto　precipitated　by　a　warning　from　the　stranger　in　the　launch：

〃We　shall　need　all　the　tide　we　can　get。〃

〃I'm　sure　you'd　be　glad　to　know；〃　I　then　said　immediately　（to　Charley；　of　course）；　〃that　Miss　La　Heu；　whose　dog　you　killed；　is　back　at　her　work　as　usual　this　morning。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　returned　Charley。　〃If　there　could　be　any　chance　for　me　to　replace〃

〃Miss　La　Heu　is　her　name？〃　inquired　Hortense。　〃I　did　not　catch　it　yesterday。　She　works；　you　say？〃

〃At　the　Woman's　Exchange。　She　bakes　cakes　for　weddingsamong　her　other　activities。〃

〃So　interesting！〃　said　Hortense；　and　bowing　to　me；　she　allowed　the　spellbound　Charley　to　help　her　down　into　the　launch。

Each　step　of　the　few　that　she　had　to　take　was　upon　unsteady　footing；　and　each　was　taken　with　slow　security　and　grace；　and　with　a　mastery　of　her　skirts　so　complete　that　they　seemed　to　do　it　of　themselves；　falling　and　folding　in　the　soft；　delicate　curves　of　discretion。

For　the　sake　of　not　seeming　too　curious　about　this　party；　I　turned　from　watching　it　before　the　launch　had　begun　to　move；　and　it　was　immediately　hidden　from　me　by　the　bank；　so　that　I　did　not　see　it　get　away。　As　I　crossed　an　open　space　toward　the　gardens　I　found　myself　far　behind　the　other　pilgrims；　whose　wandering　bands　I　could　half　discern　among　winding　walks　and　bordering　bushes。　I　was　soon　taken　into　somewhat　reprimanding　charge　by　an　admirable；　if　important；　negro；　who　sighted　me　from　a　door　beneath　the　porch　of　the　house；　and　advanced　upon　me　speedily。　From　him　I　learned　at　once　the　rule　of　the　place；　that　strangers　were　not　allowed　to　〃go　loose；〃　as　he　expressed　it；　and　recognizing　the　perfect　propriety　of　this　restriction；　I　was　humble；　and　even　went　so　far　as　to　put　myself　right　with　him　by　quite　ample　purchases　of　the　beautiful　flowers　that　he　had　for　sale；　some　of　these　would　be　excellent　for　the　up…country　bride；　who　certainly　ought　to　have　repentance　from　me　in　some　form　for　my　silence　as　we　had　come　up　the　river：　the　scenery　had　caused　me　most　ungallantly　to　forget　her。

My　rule…breaking　turned　out　all　to　my　advantage。　The　admirable　and　important　negro　was　so　pacified　by　my　liberal　amends　that　he　not　only　placed　the　flowers　which　I　had　bought　in　a　bucket　of　water　to　wait　in　freshness　until　my　tour　of　the　gardens　should　be　finished　and　the　moment　for　me　to　return　upon　the　boat　should　arrive；　but　he　also　honored　me　with　his　own　special　company；　and　instead　of　depositing　me　in　one　of　the　groups　of　other　travellers；　he　took　me　to　see　the　sights　alone；　as　if　I　were　somebody　too　distinguished　to　receive　my　impressions　with　the　common　herd。　Thus　I　was　able　to　linger　here　and　there；　and　even　to　return　to　certain　points　for　another　look。

I　shall　not　attempt　to　describe　the　azaleas　at　Live　Oaks。　You　will　understand　me　quite　well；　I　am　sure；　when　I　say　that　I　had　heard　the　peo…　ple　at　Mrs。　Trevise's　house　talk　so　much　about　them；　and　praise　them　so　superlatively；　that　I　was　not　prepared　for　much：　my　experience　of　life　had　already　included　quite　a　number　of　azaleas。　Moreover；　my　meeting　with　Hortense　and　Charley　had　taken　me　far　away　from　flowers。　But　when　that　marvelous　place　burst　upon　me；　I　forgot　Hortense。　I　have　seen　gardens；　many　gardens；　in　England；　in　France；　in　Italy；　I　have　seen　what　can　be　done　in　great　hothouses；　and　on　great　terraces；　what　can　be　done　under　a　roof；　and　what　can　be　done　in　the　open　air　with　the　aid　of　architecture　and　sculpture　and　ornamental　land　and　water；　but　no　horticulture　that　I　have　seen　devised　by　mortal　man　approaches　the　unearthly　enchantment　of　the　azaleas　at　Live　Oaks。　It　was　not　like　seeing　flowers　a