“Does it equal your expectations, dear?” he asked.  “You had formed such romantic ideas of the place, I feared you might be disappointed.”

“I suppose that was the reason you tried to persuade me to spend our honeymoon in Savannah,” rejoined she.  “But we should be so bored with visitors.  Here, it seems like the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve had it all to themselves, before the serpent went there to make mischief.  I had heard father and mother tell so much about Magnolia Lawn that I was eager to see it.”

“They visited it in spring, when it really does look like Paradise,” replied he.  “It has its beauties now; but this is not the favorable season for seeing it; and after we have been here a few days, I think we had better return to Savannah, and come again when the lawn is carpeted with flowers.”

“I see your mind is bent upon not staying here,” answered she; “and I suppose it would be rather tiresome to have no other company than your stupid little Lily Bell.”

She spoke with a pouting affectation of reproach, and he exclaimed, “Lily, darling!” as he passed his arm round her slender waist, and, putting aside a shower of pale yellowish ringlets, gazed fondly into the blue eyes that were upturned to his.

They were interrupted by the entrance of Venus, who came to ask their orders.  “Tell them to serve supper at seven, and then come and show your mistress to her dressing-room,” he said.  As she retired, he added:  “Now she’ll have something to tell of.  She’ll be proud enough of being the first to get a full sight of the new Missis; and it is a sight worth talking about.”

With a gratified smile, she glanced at the pier-glass which reflected her graceful little figure, and, taking his arm, she walked slowly round the room, praising the tasteful arrangements.  “Everything has such a bridal look!” she said.

“Of course,” replied he; “when I have such a fair Lily Bell for a bride, I wish to have her bower pearly and lily-like.  But here is Venus come to show you to your dressing-room.  I hope you will like the arrangements up stairs also.”

She kissed her hand to him as she left the room, and he returned the salute.  When she had gone, he paced slowly up and down for a few moments.  As he passed the piano, he touched the keys in a rambling way.  The tones he brought out were a few notes of an air he and Rosabella had sung in that same room a few months before.  He turned abruptly from the instrument, and looked out from the window in the direction of the lonely cottage, Nothing was visible but trees and a line of the ocean beyond.  But the chambers of his soul were filled with visions of Rosa.  He thought of the delightful day they had spent together, looking upon these same scenes; of their songs and caresses in the bower; of her letter, so full of love and glad surprise at the bridal arrangements she supposed he had made for her, “I really hope Lily won’t insist upon staying here long,” thought he; “for it is rather an embarrassing position for me.”