"Ah, Evaleen, did you enjoy your ramble?" asked the hostess, affectionately, as she rose to receive the young lady. "Colonel Burr, this is my very dear friend, Miss Evaleen Hale."
The American Chesterfield made a courtierly obeisance.
"Permit me to introduce Mr. Arlington, of Richmond."
"Miss Hale, gentlemen, like myself is a sojourner in a far country. She comes to us from Boston."
Having complied gracefully with the demands of convention, the maiden, in wilful abstraction, busied herself with some wild flowers which she had just gathered in the woods.
"Where did you leave the boys?" inquired madam, referring to the lads Dominick and Harman.
"They are out of doors, making a cage for a young squirrel which I had the luck to catch. But the lively creature bit me; see here, Margaret!"
Evaleen held up a dainty hand, on the whiteness of which the teeth of the captive had left a small purple wound. In her playful carelessness, she let fall a sprig of wind-flowers and two or three violets. Arlington gallantly picked up the flowers.
"What peculiar violets," said he, as he offered to return them.
"Yes, they are of a variety found only on this island, I am told. You may keep them if you like."