In crossing the lawn she saw, midway in the broad avenue cutting the grounds in two, what brought her courage down on the run and her hopes with it. She turned aside hastily into an arbor thickly draped with vines to take counsel with herself as to her next movement. Miss Emily, dressed in white, a garden hat set jauntily above her curls, sat upon a settee by Mr. Tayloe. Across the avenue Miss Eliza occupied another settee, and seemed absorbed in a book. Miss Emily was holding a handkerchief to her eyes, while Mr. Tayloe talked earnestly to her. Groups of children were playing on the other side of the lawn. Mr. Tayloe must be pretty confident of his ground to show himself in the sight of so many people.
After five minutes of embarrassed waiting, Flea was on the point of going back to her horse unobserved, when Mr. Tayloe got up, stepped across the avenue, and shook hands in brotherly fashion with Miss Eliza, then, Miss Emily at his side, strolled down the walk in the direction of Flea's hiding-place. They passed so near to it that she could have knocked his hat off with her riding-whip. He was serious, but as bland as the plait between his eyebrows would allow him to look. He was talking low and impressively.
"All you have to do is to be resolute," was all Flea could hear.
"That is more easily said than done," Miss Emily began. The rest was lost to the eavesdropper.
Her blood was at the boiling-point by the time the young lady returned alone. A smile hovered about her red lips, although her eyes were still moist. Flea stepped out of the arbor.
"Miss Emily!"
"Mercy on us!" in a faint scream. "Why, it is Flea Grigsby, as sure as I'm alive! Did you drop from the clouds? How you have grown, and how nice you look! Ain't you going to kiss me, child?"
The caress was almost wasted upon the excited girl.
"Miss Emily"—driving straight at the point—"I have something particular to say to you. Won't you come in here?"
Miss Emily followed her into the summer-house, dropped upon a seat, and drew her dress aside to make room for her guest.