Lady Baltimore

er when I made my first round of calls between half-past three and five--an experience particularly regrettable, since I had hurried my own dinner on purpose,

ng seen in the extra looking-glass, which I had been obliged to provide for myse

tor came up the steps, a beautiful old lad

id she, in a manner at o

, ma

n't always ring," she explained, "unless o

he free censoriousness which civilized people of consequence are apt to exercise the world over. "I was sorry to miss your visit," she began (she knew me, you see, perfectly); "you will please to come again soon, and console me for my disappointment. I am Mrs. Gregory S

agine that!"

thquake did it. You're spared earthquakes in the North, as you seem to be spared pretty much everything disastrous--except the prosperity that's going to ruin you all. We're better off with our poverty than you. Just ring the bell once more, and then we'll go. I fancy Julia--I fancy Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael--has run out to stare at the Northern steam yacht in the harbor. It would be just like her. This house is historic itself. Shabby enough now, to be sure! The great-aunt of my cousin, John Mayrant (who is going to be married next Wednesday, to such a brute of a girl, poor boy!), lived here in 1840, and made an answer

my spirit rejoiced; she was so beautiful, and so easy, and afraid of nothing and nobody! (This must b

ss fear! Well, I was already afraid of Mrs. Gregory St. Michael. As we walked and she talked, I made one or two attempts at conversation, and speedily found that no such thing was the lady's intention: I was there to listen; and truly I could wish nothing more agreeable, in spite of my desire to hear further about next Wednesday's wedding and the brute of a girl. But to this subject Mrs. St. Michael did not return. We crossed Worship Street and Chancel Street, and wer

-day, Maria!" said the othe

welcomed me to Kings Port. "Take him home with you, Julia. We pulled your bell three times, and it's too damp for you to be out. Don't forget," Mrs. Gregory said to me, "that you haven't told me a word about your Aunt Carola, and that

e must have been!" I murm

st-cousin-once-removed put the Earl of Mainridge in his place at her father's ball in 1840. Miss Beaufain (as she was then) asked the Earl how he liked America; and he replied, very well, except for the people, who were so vulgar. 'What can you expe

ver hear

e them. They have sometimes managed to make it extend through an unbroken year. Newport, I am credibly informed, greatly admires her

er type?"

ooga. I hope you will come to see me another day, when you can spare time from the battle of Cowpens. I am Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael, the other lady is Mrs. Gregory St. Michael. I wonder if you will keep

ad at first; from his whole person one got at once a strangely romantic impression. He looked at me, made as if he would speak, but passed on. Probably he had been hearing as much about

lf. I did not catch this lady's name, and she confined herself to a distant, though perhaps not unfriendly, greeting. S

his town of admirable old-fashioned propriety. In New York, in Boston, in Philadelphia, ladies of seventy won't be old ladies any more; they're unwilling to wear their years avowedly, in quiet dignity by their firesides; they bare their

talked to me, and her friend's reference to it had left me somewhat at a loss. That better precision and choice of words which I have mentioned, and the manner in which she announced her opinions, had put me in mind of several fine ladles whom I had known in othe

e while, and I had complimented the balmy March weather and the wealth of blooming flowers; "

ings were useless to me. "And, if I may be so b

at she did not permit herself to smile, and that she let me see this repression.

thinking of

n cities are greater, and their population is much greater. There are but few of us in Kings Port." In these last words she pl

asure to see and hear h

e other side. My niece is a beginner at the Exchange. We hope that she will fulfil her duties

ing. "I had not, until now, known t

ightly. "I am glad that

yes!" I e

th her. She is of good fa

oon noticed) imparted to the word "up-country" cannot be conveyed except by the human voice--and only a Kings Port voice at that. It is a much lighter dam

eel that I shall kn

is possible. But although we may talk of ourselves to y

his choice," I now threw out. My accidental words proved as miraculous as the staff which once smote the rock. It was a stream, indeed, which now broke forth from her stony discretion. She began easily.

ly stated," continued the old lady. "But since John's engag

h any more; but my min

d for myself, knowing him and believing in him as I do, I feel confident that he

utright. "But--the c

s. I suppose some one has explained to you her pretensions of birth. Away from Kings Port she may pass for a native of this place, but they come from Georgia. It cannot be said that she has met with encouragement from us; she, however, easily recovers from such things. The present generation of young people in Kings Port has little enough to remind us of what we stood for in manners and customs, but we are not accountable for her, nor for her father. I believe that he is called a general. His conduct at Chattanooga was conspicuous for personal pr

lp crying out, "I th

happy." At this point a very singular look came over the face of my hostess, and she continued: "There have been many false reports (and false hop

n, nothing?"

House, and a penny or two

I now once aga

ved such a thing possible!" she exclaimed; and she went into a long, low, contemplative laugh, looking not at me, but at the fire. Our silent companion continued t

an--?" I couldn't

poverty at him until he o

ow. "That--that--the cake--and t

u can find me anything that they ha

--which had broken forth; and I think that her silent, severe sister scarcely approved of such breaking forth to me, a stranger. But indignation had worn her r

will 'get out of it

ested stupidly. "He doesn't look like tha

ourse, he is honorable--a great deal too much so for his own good. It is a misfortune, nowadays, to be born a gentleman in America. But, as I told you, I am not solicitous. What she is counting on--because she thinks she understands true Kings Port honor, and does not in t

Did I understand you to say that

at is just precisely what would make him--do yo

urmured. "What

sily. "Oh, no. You will

. And at this point the other, the more severe and elderly lady, made her contribution to my entertainment. She had kept silence, I now felt sure, because gossip was neither her

d, is your first v

her tha

s been thought a place worth seeing. There is

assured her that I did n

then) put the Earl of Mainridge in his place, at the reception which her father gave the English visitor in 1840. The Earl conducted himself as so many Eng

id Miss Beaufain; 'we're d

e that your Northern beauties

g expressed my appreciation of the anecdote, I moved

word for me. "Do not l

ed at my watch and found that for this da