“They didn’t know it,” laughed Eugenia.  “I come like a bolt from the blue.”

Mrs. Webb smiled coldly.  She was just as the girl had known her in childhood—­only the high black pompadour was now white.  She still wore her stiff black silk gown, fastened at the throat by a Confederate button set in a brooch.

“You are like yourself and no one else,” said Eugenia simply.  “But tell me of Dudley—­where is he?”

Mrs. Webb’s face softened slightly.

“His practice is in Richmond now,” she answered.  “You know he studied law and took great honours at college.  But his ambitions, I fear, are political.  I don’t like politics.  They aren’t for honest men.”

Eugenia did not smile.  She merely nodded assent and, saying good-bye pleasantly, jolted out of Kingsborough into the Old Stage Road.

“When did Mrs. Webb dine at home, Sampson?” she asked suddenly after a long silence.

“Hit wa’n’ onc’t en it wa’n’ twice,” said Sampson thoughtfully.  “Mo’ like hit wuz tree times.  She done been dar monst’ous often dis yer winter, an’ de mo’ she come de mo’ ’ristocratical she ’pear ter git.  Dar wa’n’ no placin’ her, nohow.  We done sot ‘er by Ole Mis’ Grissel w’en she wuz ‘live, an’ we done sot ‘er by Miss Chris, an’ we done sot ’er by Marse Tom hisse’f, an’, fo’ de Lawd, I ain’ never seen ’er congeal yit.”

But Eugenia was seeking other information.  “Is Uncle Ish well?  And Aunt Verbeny, and the dogs? and did you bury Jim in the graveyard?”

“Dey’s all well,” replied Sampson, flicking at a horsefly on the sorrel’s back, “an’ Jim, he’s well en buried.  Marse Tom sot up er boa’d des’ like you tell ’im.”

A little later they turned into the cedar avenue, and Eugenia could see the large white pillars of the porch.

“There they are!” she cried excitedly, and before the carriage stopped she was up the narrow walk and in the general’s arms.

“Well, daughter! daughter!” said the general.  His eyes were watery, and when Eugenia fell upon Miss Chris, he blew his nose loudly with a nervous wave of his silk handkerchief.

“I was obliged to come,” explained Eugenia.  “When I got your letter saying I might, I was so happy.”

“Tom!” murmured Miss Chris reproachfully, but her eyes were shining and she laid an affectionate hand on her brother’s arm.

The general blushed like a boy.

“I told her if she’d fully made up her mind to come, I’d—­I’d let her,” he stammered shamefacedly.

“Oh, I was coming anyway!” announced Eugenia cheerfully as she was clasped upon the bosom of Aunt Verbeny.

“Ain’t you des’ yo’ ma all over?” cried Aunt Verbeny enthusiastically.  “Is you ever see anybody so w’ite en’ so’ black in de same breff ’cep’n Miss Meeley?  Can’t I see her now same ez ‘twuz yestiddy, stannin’ right dar in dis yer hall en’ sayin’, ‘You b’longs ter me, Verbeny, en’ I’se gwine ter take cyar you de bes’ I kin.’”