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if the mistress had been out to take a look at the steam yacht； she had returned。
〃My sister；〃 she said； presenting me to a supremely fine…looking old lady； more chiselled； more august； than even herself。 I did not catch this lady's name； and she confined herself to a distant； though perhaps not unfriendly； greeting。 She was sitting by a work…table； and she resumed some embroidery of exquisite appearance； while my hostess talked to me。
Both wore their hair in a simple fashion to suit their years； which must have been seventy or more； both were dressed with the dignity that such years call for； and I may mention here that so were all the ladies above a certain age in this 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 bosoms and gallop egregiously to the ball…rooms of the young； and so we lose a particular graciousness that Kings Port retains； a perspective of generations。 We happen all at once； with no background； in a swirl of haste and similarity。
One of the many things which came home to me during the conversation that now began （so many more things came home than I can tell you！） was that Mrs。 Gregory St。 Michael's tongue was assuredly 〃downright〃 for Kings Port。 This I had not at all taken in while she 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 other parts of the world； but hers was an individual manner； I was soon to find； and by no means the Kings Port convention。 This convention permitted； indeed； condemnations of one's neighbor no less sweeping； but it conveyed them in a phraseology far more restrained。
〃I cannot regret your coming to Kings Port；〃 said my hostess； after we had talked for a little while； and I had complimented the balmy March weather and the wealth of blooming flowers； 〃but I fear that Fanning is not a name that you will find here。 It belongs to North Carolina。〃
I smiled and explained that North Carolina Fannings were useless to me。 〃And； if I may be so bold； how well you are acquainted with my errand！〃
I cannot say that my hostess smiled； that would be too definite； but I can say that she did not permit herself to smile； and that she let me see this repression。 〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃we are acquainted with your errand； though not with its motive。〃
I sat silent； thinking of the Exchange。
My hostess now gave me her own account of why all things were known to all people in this town。 〃The distances in your Northern cities are greater； and their population is much greater。 There are but few of us in Kings Port。〃 In these last words she plainly told me that those 〃few〃 desired no others。 She next added： 〃My nephew； John Mayrant； has spoken of you at some length。〃
I bowed。 〃I had the pleasure to see and hear him order a wedding cake。〃
〃Yes。 From Eliza La Heu （pronounced Layhew）； my niece； he is my nephew； she is my niece on the other side。 My niece is a beginner at the Exchange。 We hope that she will fulfil her duties there in a worthy manner。 She comes from a family which is schooled to meet responsibilities。〃
I bowed again； again it seemed fitting。 〃I had not； until now； known the charming girl's name；〃 I murmured。
My hostess now bowed slightly。 〃I am glad that you find her charming。〃
〃Indeed； yes！〃 I exclaimed。
〃We； also； are pleased with her。 She is of good familyfor the up…country。〃
Once again our alphabet fails me。 The peculiar shade of kindness； of recognition； of patronage； which my agreeable hostess （and all Kings Port ladies； I soon noticed） imparted to the word 〃up…country〃 cannot be conveyed except by the human voiceand only a Kings Port voice at that。 It is a much lighter damnation than what they make of the phrase 〃from Georgia；〃 which I was soon to hear uttered by the lips of the lady。 〃And so you know about his wedding cake？〃
〃My dear madam； I feel that I shall know about everything。〃
Her gray eyes looked at me quietly for a moment。 〃That is possible。 But although we may talk of ourselves to you； we scarcely expect you to talk of ourselves to us。〃
Well； my pertness had brought me this quite properly！ And I received it properly。 〃I should never dream〃 I hastened to say； 〃even without your warning。 I find I'm expected to have seen the young lady of 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。 〃It is evident that you have not seen Miss Rieppe by the manner in which you allude to heralthough of course； in comparison with my age； she is a young girl。〃 I think that this caused me to open my mouth。
〃The disparity between her years and my nephew's is variously stated；〃 continued the old lady。 〃But since John's engagement we have all of us realized that love is truly blind。〃
I did not open my mouth any more； but my mind's mouth was wide open。
My hostess kept it so。 〃Since John Mayrant was fifteen he has had many loves； and for myself； knowing him and believing in him as I do； I feel confident that he will make no connection distasteful to the family when he really comes to marry。〃
This time I gasped outright。 〃Butthe cake！next Wednesday！〃
She made； with her small white hand； a slight and slighting gesture。 〃The cake is not baked yet； and we shall see what we shall see。〃 From this onward until the end a pinkness mounted in her pale； delicate cheeks； and deep； strong resentment burned beneath her discreetly expressed indiscretions。 〃The cake is not baked； and I； at least； am not solicitous。 I tell my cousin； Mrs。 Gregory St。 Michael； that she must not forget it was merely his phosphates。 That girl would never have looked at John Mayrant had it not been for the rumor of his phosphates。 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 prudence。 Both of them are skillful in never knowing poor peoplebut the Northerners they consort with must really be at a loss how to bestow their money。 Of course； such Northerners cannot realize the difference between Kings Port and Georgia； and consequently they make much of her。 Her features do undoubtedly possess beauty。 A Newport womanthe new kindhas even taken her to Worth！ And yet； after all； she has remained for John。 We heard a great deal of her men； too。 She took care of that； of course。 John Mayrant actually followed her to Newport。
〃But；〃 I couldn't help crying out； 〃I thought he was so poor！〃
〃The phosphates；〃 my hostess explained。 〃They had been discovered on his land。 And none of her New York men had come forward。 So John rushed back 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 hopes in consequence） based upon the phosphate discoveries。 It was I who had to break it to himwhat further investigation had revealed。 Poor John！〃
〃He has； then； nothing？〃 I inquired。
〃His position in the Custom House； and a penny or two from his mother's fortune。〃
〃But the cake？〃 I now once again reminded her。
My hostess lifted her delicate hand and let it fall。 Her resentment at the would…be intruder by marriage still mounted。 〃Not even from that pair would I have believed 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 to embroider。 〃That girl；〃 my hostess resumed； 〃and her discreditable father played on my nephew's youth and chivalry to the tune ofwell； you have heard the tune。〃
〃You meanyou mean？〃 I couldn't quite take it in。
〃Yes。 They rattled their poverty at him until he offered and they accepted。〃
I must have stared grotesquely now。 〃Thatthatthe cakeand that sort of thingat his expense？
〃My dear sir； I shall be glad if you can find me anything that they have ever done at their own expense！〃
I doubt if she would ever have permitted her speech such freedom had not the Rieppes been 〃from Georgia〃； I am sure that it was angerfamily anger； race angerwhich 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 reticence thin； and I had happened to press upon the weak place。 After my burst of exclamation I came back to it。 〃So you think Miss Rieppe will get out of it？〃
〃It is my nephew who will 'get out of it；' as you express it。〃
I totally misunderstood he