“Come with me,” I urged.  I was about to walk out myself.  Together we bade adieu to Miss Caroline.

But the minister’s walk ended at my own door.  In the cool gloom of my little library I asked him if he would be good enough to excuse me a moment, indicating the broad couch beneath the window.

“With pleasure, Major!” and he sank among the restful pillows.  “I am ashamed to say that the heat has rendered me a trifle indolent”.

When I came softly back five minutes later, he lay in deep slumber, his face cherubically innocent, his breathing soft as a babe’s.  He awoke freshly two hours later.  He apologized for his rudeness and expressed a wish for a glass of cool water.  Three of these he drank with evidences of profound relish.  Then he drew his large silver watch from his pocket.

“On my word, Major, it’s after six, and I shall be late for tea!  I have trespassed shamefully upon you!”

“The heat was very trying,” I said.

“Quite enervating, indeed!  I seem only now to be feeling its effects.”

As he walked briskly down the now cooling street, he bared his brow to the gentle breeze of evening.

To the ladies, solicitous about Miss Caroline, who called upon him a few days later, he said, “She is a most admirable and lovely woman—­not at all a person one could bring one’s self to address on the painful subject of intoxicants.  Had she offered me a glass of wine or other stimulant, a way might have been opened, but I am delighted to say that her hospitality went no farther than this innocent beverage.”  The minister indicated on his study table a glass containing sweetened ice-water in which some leaves of mint had been submerged.

“It is called a mint julep,” he added, “though I confess I do not get the same delicate tang from the herb that her black fellow does.  As he prepared the decoction I assure you its flavor was capital!”

CHAPTER XVII

THE TRUTH ABOUT SHAKSPERE AT LAST

Miss Caroline dutifully returned the calls that were paid her, with never a suspicion that her slavery to strong drink had been the secret inspiration of them.  She was not yet awake to our sentiments in this matter.  She had given strong waters to the minister with a heart as innocent as their disguise of ice and leafage had made them actually appear to that good man.  And I, who was well informed, hesitated to warn her, hoping weakly that she would come to understand.  For I had seen there were many things that Miss Caroline had not to be told in order to know.