“Excuse me for interrupting you,” said she, dropping one of her little quick courtesies, which seemed half frolic, half politeness.  “The woods are charming to-day.  The trees are hung with curtains of jasmine, embroidered all over with golden flowers.  You love perfumes so well, I couldn’t help stopping by the way to load Thistle with an armful of them.”

“Thank you, dear,” replied Mrs. Delano.  “I rode out yesterday afternoon, and I thought I had never seen anything so beautiful as the flowery woods and the gorgeous sunset.  After being accustomed to the splendor of these Southern skies, the Northern atmosphere will seem cold and dull.”

“Shall you go to the North soon?” inquired Flora, anxiously.

“I shall leave here in ten or twelve days,” she replied; “but I may wait a short time in Savannah, till March has gone; for that is a blustering, disagreeable month in New England, though it brings you roses and perfume.  I came to Savannah to spend the winter with my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Welby; but I have always taken a great fancy to this island, and when they were suddenly called away to Arkansas by the illness of a son, I asked their permission to come here for a few weeks and watch the beautiful opening of the spring.  I find myself much inclined to solitude since I lost a darling daughter, who died two years ago.  If she had lived, she would have been about your age.”

“I am so sorry you are going away,” said Flora.  “It seems as if I had always known you.  I don’t know what I shall do without you.  But when you go back among your friends, I suppose you will forget all about poor little me.”

“No, my dear little friend, I shall never forget you,” she replied; “and when I come again, I hope I shall find you here.”

“I felt troubled when I went away the other day,” said Flora.  “I thought you seemed to look sadly after me, and I was afraid you thought I had done something wicked, because I said you wouldn’t wish I were your daughter if you knew everything about me.  So I have come to tell you my secrets, as far as I can without betraying other people’s.  I am afraid you won’t care anything more about me after I have told you; but I can’t help it if you don’t.  Even that would be better than to have you suspect me of being bad.”

Mrs. Delano drew an ottoman toward her, and said, “Come and sit here, dear, and tell me all about it, the same as if I were your mother.”

Floracita complied; and resting one elbow on her knee, and leaning her cheek upon the hand, she looked up timidly and wistfully into the friendly face that was smiling serenely over her.  After a moment’s pause, she said abruptly:  “I don’t know how to begin, so I won’t begin at all, but tell it right out.  You see, dear Mrs. Delano, I am a colored girl.”

The lady’s smile came nearer to a laugh than was usual with her.  She touched the pretty dimpled cheek with her jewelled finger, as she replied:  “O, you mischievous little kitten!  I thought you were really going to tell me something about your troubles.  But I see you are hoaxing me.  I remember when you were at Madame Conquilla’s you always seemed to be full of fun, and the young ladies there said you were a great rogue.”