The exclamations of delight were perfectly satisfactory, even to Mrs. Winchester, who moved with majestic mien in their midst, listening with a jealous ear for praises of her idol, and, by her questioning eyes, plainly demanding more of the same kind. Mrs. Goddard’s eyes were dewy with gratitude, and Carolina whispered to her that she--Mrs. Goddard--was Guildford’s fairy godmother. When they had all returned to the drawing-room, Mr. Howard turned to Judge Lee and said: "Well, judge, what is your opinion? Isn’t this pretty good for one little girl to accomplish all by herself?" "Mr. Howard," said Judge Lee and his eyebrows, "it is the most marvellous thing I ever heard of a young girl achieving. Why, sir, to us Southerners, it is nothing short of miraculous. Here are scores of my own dear friends, similarly situated,--land poor, they call themselves,--yet, as I cannot doubt Carolina’s word or your figures, and you both assert that Guildford has paid for itself, each and every one of them might restore their property in a similar manner. I had no idea of the value of this new turpentine company of yours." "Aren’t you sorry now, Cousin Fanshaw," said Carolina, mischievously, "that you wouldn’t invest when we wanted you to?" Judge Lee cleared his throat and reddened slightly. He did not relish being jested with. "I think I am, Carolina," he said. "God knows I needed the money, but, if you will allow me, under the circumstances of your great triumph, to be ungallant, I will tell you that I did not have any faith in a woman’s head for business." "Few of us have, I think," said Mr. Howard, coming to his rescue. "At first, I did not, but Carolina was so sure that I began it as an experiment which was likely to cost me dear. I have ended by believing in it with all my heart." "Of course I have had a great deal of help," said Carolina, generously. "Mr. La Grange is very influential, and I am sure I could not have got the telephone and electric light without him. They were carrying lanterns in Enterprise when we first came down here, and I expected to have to get along with acetylene, which I greatly dislike. But he told me that for the last ten years the subject of electric lighting had been agitated, and that he believed a little new blood and ready money would start the thing. That was easily managed, but the cost of bringing the wires to Guildford was greater than I expected. However, in another year several other estates will need lighting, and I shall carry it for them over my wires, and thus reduce my initial expense materially." "Who owns the control in the electric company?" asked Judge Lee. "Why, Carolina does, of course!" said Mr. Howard. "You don’t suppose my little Napoleon of Finance would commit such an error of judgment as not to keep that? Nevertheless, she put up the poles from Enterprise to Guildford at her own expense. She wouldn’t take any unfair advantage of her control."