The wind was in her favor; the little sail filled and the boat was wafted swiftly down stream to the landing-place at the island. Em. furled her sail, moored her boat, and stepped out upon the pretty path that led first through the girdle of acacias and then through the ring of silver maples, and thence up the ornamented terraces among groves, fountains, arbors, statues, and parterres of flowers to the beautiful high knoll on which the white mansion stood. She remembered the way taken by old ’Sias when he borrowed the key from the housekeeper, and so she followed the path around to the rear of the premises, where she was so fortunate as to find the woman—a very handsome mulatto, sitting on an arbor, engaged in needlework. “Good-morning,” said Em., who had approached so softly that her presence was not perceived until she spoke. “Lord bless my soul alive! Who _is_ you, anyhow, young lady?” exclaimed the woman, but there was more of surprise, even of amazement, than of offence in her manner. “I startled you, I fear,” said Em. with a smile. “Well, I should think you did. Who _is_ you, honey, to be sure, then?” “Only Em. Palmer, one of the new overseer’s daughters from the Wilderness.” “Oh, yes! To be sure!” exclaimed the woman, but without ceasing to stare at the visitor. “I came upon you too suddenly. You seemed to be in a reverie. But I came to ask you, if it is not asking too much, to permit me to see the inside of the house,” said Em. with some bashful hesitation. “Oh, yes, chile, you can see the house. Any one can see it without reserve at any time, ’cept when my mistress is at home, and even then they can see every part of it except her chamber. Yes, chile, here is the key of the front door. Go in and look for yourself.” “Thank you very much. I only want to see the drawing-room, with the portrait of your mistress. It _is_ the portrait of your mistress, is it not?” “It’s like her, honey, if you mean the white veiled figure in the drawing-room.” “Thank you,” said Em. again, as she received the key and turned to go around to the front. She unlocked the door and entered the hall, and then passed immediately to the elegant drawing-room, upholstered in white, blue and silver. She scarcely glanced at the splendors of this saloon, but went immediately up to the figure and stood gazing at it with uplifted eyes and clasped hands and eager mind, anxious to read the mystery of this veiled face, whose wonderful, fair beauty could be traced even behind the mist of the flowing white gauze. She stood thus until startled by a voice at her elbow: “That is a most wonderful picture, is it not?” Em. turned suddenly and stood face to face with Ronald Bruce. CHAPTER V RONALD BRUCE Handsome as Hercules, ere his first labor. ANON.