“I can’t, Puss,” said Virginia, submitting impatiently to Miss Russell’s warm embrace.  She was disappointed at finding the stranger.  “I only came —­to say that I am going to have a birthday party in a few weeks.  You must be sure to come, and bring your guest.”

Virginia took her bridle from Ned, and Miss Russell’s hospitable face fell.

“You’re not going?” she said.

“To Bellegarde for dinner,” answered Virginia.

“But it’s only ten o’clock,” said Puss.  “And, Jinny?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a new young man in town, and they do say his appearance is very striking—­not exactly handsome, you know, but strong-looking.”

“He’s horrid!” said Virginia.  “He’s a Yankee.”

“How do you know?” demanded Puss and Emily in chorus.

“And he’s no gentleman,” said Virginia.

“But how do you know, Jinny?”

“He’s an upstart.”

“Oh.  But he belongs to a very good Boston family, they say.”

“There are no good Boston families,” replied Virginia, with conviction, as she separated her reins.  “He has proved that.  Who ever heard of a good Yankee family?”

“What has he done to you, Virginia?” asked Puss, who had brains.

Virginia glanced at the guest.  But her grievance was too hot within her for suppression.

Do you remember Mr. Benbow’s Hester, girls?  The one I always said I wanted.  She was sold at auction yesterday.  Pa and I were passing the Court House, with Clarence, when she was put up for sale.  We crossed the street to see what was going on, and there was your strong-looking Yankee standing at the edge of the crowd.  I am quite sure that he saw me as plainly as I see you, Puss Russell.”

“How could he help it?” said Puss, slyly.

Virginia took no notice of the remark.

“He heard me ask Pa to buy her.  He heard Clarence say that he would bid her in for me.  I know he did.  And yet he goes in and outbids Clarence, and buys her himself.  Do you think any gentleman would do that, Puss Russell?”

“He bought her himself!” cried the astonished Miss Russell.  “Why I thought that all Bostonians were Abolitionists.”

“Then he set her free,” said Miss Carvel, contemptuously Judge Whipple went on her bond to-day.”

“Oh, I’m just crazy to see him now,” said Miss Russell.

“Ask him to your party, Virginia,” she added mischievously.

“Do you think I would have him in my house?” cried Virginia.

Miss Russell was likewise courageous—­“I don’t see why not.  You have Judge Whipple every Sunday dinner, and he’s an Abolitionist.”

Virginia drew herself up.

“Judge Whipple has never insulted me,” she said, with dignity.

Puss gave way to laughter.  Whereupon, despite her protests and prayers for forgiveness, Virginia took to her mare again and galloped off.  They saw her turn northward on the Bellefontaine Road.