St. George laughed gayly in return, his palms flattened against each other and held out in supplication; but he made no defence.  He was studying the couple, his mind on the bearing and manner of the young man toward the woman he was pursuing so relentlessly.  He saw that he had completely regained his health, his clear eyes and ruddy skin and the spring with which he moved denoting a man in perfect physical condition.  He discovered, too, that he was extremely well dressed and his costume all that it should be—­especially the plum-colored coat, which fitted his shoulders to perfection; his linen of the whitest and finest, each ruffle in flutes; the waist-coat embroidered in silk; the pumps of the proper shape and the stockings all that could be desired—­except perhaps—­and a grim smile crossed his face—­that the silk scarf was a shade out of key with the prevailing color of his make-up, particularly his hair; but, then, that was to be expected of a man who had a slight flaw in his ancestry.  He wondered if she had noticed it and studied her face for an answer.  No!  She had not noticed it.  In fact there were very many things she was overlooking in these last days of his wooing, he thought to himself.

Suddenly he became occupied with Kate’s beauty.  He thought he had never seen her so bewitching or in such good spirits.  From his six feet and an inch of vantage his eyes followed her sloping shoulders and tapering arms and rested on her laughing, happy face—­rose-colored in the soft light of the candles—­a film of lace looped at her elbows, her wonderful hair caught in a coil at the back:  not the prevailing fashion but one most becoming to her.  What had not this admixture of Scotch and Virginia blood—­this intermingling of robust independence with the gentle, yielding feminine qualities of the Southern-born woman—­done for this girl?

Richard clapped his hands to attract attention, and advancing a step in front of the big easy-chair which Malachi had just pulled out for him, raised his fingers to command silence.

All eyes were instantly turned his way.  Alert and magnetic, dignified and charming, he stood in the full glow of the overhead chandelier, its light falling upon his snuff-brown coat with its brass buttons, pale-yellow waistcoat, and the fluff of white silk about his throat—­ his grave, thoughtful face turned toward Kate as his nearest guest, his glance sweeping the crowded room as if to be sure that everybody was at ease; Malachi close behind awaiting his master’s orders to further adjust the chair and reading-lamp.

In the interim of the hush Kate had settled herself at Richard’s feet on the low stool that Willits had brought, the young man standing behind her, the two making a picture that attracted general attention; some wondering at her choice, while others were outspoken in their admiration of the pair who seemed so wonderfully suited to each other.