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Weguelin, "rates few things more highly than her own judgment." Mrs. Gregory mused. "Yet she is often right when she has no right to be right." I could not bear it any longer, and I said, "I heard to-day that Miss Rieppe had broken her engagement." "And where did you hear that nonsense?" asked Mrs. Gregory. My heart leaped, and I told her where.
The card-case was in her hand, and the sight of it prompted me to allude to Hortense Rieppe. "I find her beauty growing upon me?" I declared. Mrs. Gregory did not deny the beauty, although she spoke with reserve at first. "It is to be said that she knows how to write a suitable note," the lady also admitted.
So did we move onward, passing in due time another bridge and a few dwellings and some excavations, until the river grew quite narrow, and there ahead was the landing at Live Oaks, with negroes idly watching for us, and a launch beside the bank, and Charley and Hortense Rieppe about to step into it.
Well, it was; and I must simply confess to it, hoping that I am not the only gentleman in the world who has, on occasion, fallen beneath himself. "Hortense Rieppe," began Kitty, "what do you intend to say to my brother after what he has done about those phosphates?" "He is always so kind," murmured Hortense. "Well, you know what it means." "Means?" "If you persist in this folly, you'll drop out."
It grew more tremendous in the silence as Eliza La Heu brought me my orders. Miss Rieppe did not seat herself to take the light refreshment which she found enough for lunch. Her plate and cup were set for her, but she walked about, now with one, and now with the other, taking her time over it, and pausing here and there at some article of the Exchange stock.
But many tempting dances on the land, and cruises on the water, had taken him deep among our lower classes that have boiled up from the bottom with their millions and besides, there would be nothing to marvel at in Beverly's presence in any company that should include Hortense Rieppe, if she carried out the promise of her voice.
"Oh, la la!" said Gazza. "If it is hot in the cabin!" And he flirted his handkerchief back and forth. "I think I had the best of it," I remarked. "All the melody and none of the temperature." Hortense saw no need of noticing me further "The singer has the worst of it," said Gazza. "But since you all sang!" I laughed. "Miss Rieppe, she is cool," continued Gazza. "And she danced. It is not fair."
I should have been glad to know if the accomplished young woman had further probed that question and discovered the truth, but it seemed scarce likely that she could do this without the help of one of three persons, Eliza and myself who knew all, or John who knew nothing; for the up-country bride, and whatever other people in Kings Port there were to whom the bride might gayly recite the tale of my roses, were none of them likely to encounter Miss Rieppe; their paths and hers would not meet until they met in church at the wedding of Hortense and John.
This had the ladies taught me during the fluttered interchange of their reminders and opinions, and by their eager agreements and disagreements, I was also grateful to them in that I could once more correct Juno. The pleasure should be mine to tell them in the public hearing of our table that Miss Rieppe was still engaged to John Mayrant.
He stood by the wheel of the cart, looking up at her and protesting, and I joined him. "Thank you," she returned, "I need no one. You will both oblige me by saying no more about it." "John!" It was the slow, well-calculated utterance of Hortense Rieppe. Did I hear in it the caressing note of love? John turned.
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