The air, half queenly, half childish, with which this was said, was acknowledged by Clayton with a grave smile, as he replied, bowing,—
"Thank you, madam."
"Perhaps," she added, in a grave tone, "you'll be sorry that you ever came here."
"What do you mean by that?" he replied.
"I don't know; it just came into my head to say it. We none of us ever know what's going to come of what we do."
At this instant, a violent clamor, like the cawing of a crow, rose on one side of the avenue; and the moment after Tomtit appeared, caricoling, and cutting a somerset; his curls flying, his cheeks glowing.
"Why, Tomtit, what upon earth is this for?" said Nina.
"Laws, missis, deres been a gen'elman waiting for you at the house these two hours. And missis, she's done got on her best cap, and gone down in the parlor for him."
Nina felt herself blush to the roots of her hair, and was vexed and provoked to think she did so. Involuntarily her eyes met Clayton's. But he expressed neither curiosity nor concern.
"What a pretty drapery this light moss makes!" said he. "I wasn't aware that it grew so high up in the state."