Augustus Horton entered the room at this moment, and Adelaide presented her brother to the young engineer.
There was little sympathy between Gilbert Margrave and the planter of New Orleans. Augustus had never quitted the Southern States, except on the occasion of one or two brief visits to New York. His ideas were narrow, his prejudices deeply rooted. He was by no means free from the vices of his fellow-citizens; he was known to frequent the gambling houses, which, in spite of the law promulgated for their suppression, still existed in New Orleans; but he was known, also, to be prudent, even in the midst of his dissipation, and never to have jeopardized the splendid estate left him by his father.
But hospitality is an universal virtue with the creoles, and Augustus bade the young engineer a hearty welcome to his house.
They conversed for some time on indifferent subjects, and Gilbert, having accepted an invitation to dinner for the following day, was about to take his leave, when he was prevented by the entrance of the slave, Myra.
The girl approached her mistress with an embarrassed manner unusual to her.
"What is the matter with you, Myra?" asked Augustus, impatiently. "What are you standing there for? Why don't you speak?"
"Oh, if you please, massa," stammered the girl, "there is a young person below who asks to see my mistress, and who calls herself Miss Leslie."
"Gerald Leslie's daughter here!" exclaimed Augustus. "This is too much. This is what her father exposes us to in not teaching this girl her real position."
"What is to be done?" asked Adelaide, turning pale.
"Can you ask?" replied her brother. "Surely there is but one course. I will ask Myra here," he added, pointing to the young quadroon. "Tell me, girl, what do you think of this young person?"