“Bright blue ribbons must be rare luxuries of dress in this Wilderness, and if it does not mollify the temper of Madame Sereny, I do not know what will!” They reached the park gate at last and passed through. And there, sure enough, at the door of the lodge stood the tall, handsome mulatto woman called, or rather miscalled, Serena. A heavy thunder-cloud was on her brow. Her little, old, black dwarf of a husband shrank behind Em., who walked smilingly up to the woman, saying frankly: “See what I have brought you, as a testimonial of my gratitude to your husband for taking me to the island to hear the blind preacher.” And with these words she placed the bright blue scarf in the woman’s hand. Serena smiled, showing all her large, white, regular ivories, and said: “Thanky, Miss. How purty! Dere ain’t sich a scaff in de whole county as dis! ’Deed, I’m ebber so much obleeged to yer! Won’t yer come in an’ res’?” “No, I thank you. I have to hurry home to my father and mother,” said Em. “Yes, honey, dat’s right, too! Be dutiful to yer parients. Thanky agin, Miss! And if ebber, so be, yer want my ’Sias to take yer a rowin’ or a sailin’, he’ll _do_ it, or I’ll know the reason why he _don’t_. Come in, ’Sias, honey, yer dinner’s all ready for yer,” concluded Sereny in a tone of such good will that the old man smilingly followed her into the lodge, while Em. hurried home feeling that all was well. CHAPTER II THE AGENT A man in middle age. Busy, and hard to please. TAYLOR. “Well, runaway! Where have you been all the morning?” briskly inquired John Palmer as he ran down the front steps to meet his favorite daughter as she came up the heavily-shaded avenue. “To a lovely island down the river, father, to hear a—heavenly minister!” exclaimed Em. with a burst of enthusiasm. And then, as they strolled leisurely on to the house, she gave him, after the manner of young girls, a rapid, impetuous, and graphic description of her morning’s adventures and discoveries. “An Edengarden and a White Spirit! Wery fantastical names, Em. And, I reckon, just some of old ’Si’s yarns,” quietly observed John as they entered the hall, where Susan and old Monica were busy setting the table and preparing the frugal dinner. “Gracious, Em., you’ve been away all day, and if it had not been for that little black boy—Si’, he said his name was—a coming and telling me you had gone to a preaching with his grandfather, I shouldn’t a known what had become o’ you,” said Susan. “But I wouldn’t have gone without sending you word, mother. And, oh! as soon as ever we get quiet I have got _so_ much to tell you,” answered Em., as she took the loaf of bread out of the good woman’s hand and began to cut it in slices for the table.