“In America! Well one may grow oranges in New England by covering the trees with glass and heating the conservatory, but break the glass or let the fire expire and the orange trees die. Break the civilization of the white race in America like the glass, let the fire of its culture become extinguished and alas for the exotic race and its artificial progress.” “But enough of my race,” exclaimed Burton impatiently as he arose from the table and began walking about the room. “Formerly I tried to curb an inclination that was incomprehensible. Now that I know the cause I rather enjoy the relapses into my natural self. I welcome the casting aside of the mask and affectation of the unreal. It is a relief. The restraint imposed by the presence of those who know me for what I am, is irksome. I long all day for the freedom of my isolation here in the ‘Eyrie’ where no prying eye is finely discriminating the real from the sham. I loath the office and the association there. Each day I seem to drop a link of the chain that binds me to an artificial existence.” Suddenly an idea seemed to present some new phase to the soliloquizing man. He put his hand to his head as if in pain, and cried out, “But the end! What shall it be?” XV. “It was good of you Jack, to have Mr. Dunlap invite me to dine with him this evening. I am deucedly weary of the ‘off colored,’” exclaimed Lieutenant Tom Maxon as he and his companion, Captain Jack Dunlap walked in the twilight through the outskirts of Port au Prince. “To tell you the truth, Tom, I was not thinking of your pleasure in the visit half so much as I was about my old kinsman’s. You see we have been here a month, and as my Cousin Lucy is an invalid and sees no company, Mr. Dunlap has divided his great rambling house into two parts. He and Burton occupy one part and the women folk the other; I join them as often as possible but as Burton is exceedingly popular with the dusky Haitians and often absent, my old cousin is apt to be lonely. I thought your habitual jolliness would do him good, and at the same time secure you a fine dinner, excellent wine and the best cigars in Haiti; hence the invitation.” “How is Mrs. Burton? I remember her from the days when you, the little Princess and I used to make ‘Rome howl’ in the Dunlap attic.” “Lucy is much improved by the sea voyage and change of climate, but must have absolute quiet. For that reason my mother keeps up an establishment in one part of the house to insure against noise, or intrusion,” said Jack. “I hope that you didn’t promise much jollity on my part this evening, old chum, for the thought of our little Princess being an invalid and under the same roof knocks all the laugh and joke out of even a mirthful idiot like Tom Maxon,” said the lieutenant. “It’s sailing rather close to tears, I confess, Tom, but I do wish you to cheer the old gentleman up some if you can,” replied Jack as they strolled along the highway between dense masses of tropical foliage.