“Good-morning, my dear,” he said. “You have slept well, I know, and have risen to a beautiful day.” “Yes, dear uncle, and opened my eyes upon a beautiful scene! Ah! what a happiness it is to live in such a lovely place! How much I thank you for bringing us to such a heavenly place!” said Palma, taking and kissing the pale hand that he had laid in silent blessing on her head. “How much I thank you for coming, dear child!” “Thank us for coming into paradise?” “Not paradise even in summer, when it is almost a Garden of Eden in the dip of the mountains! But I hope it will be a very happy home to you and yours. Remember that you are mistress here, of a house that has not had a mistress for more than thirty years, when my dear niece, your husband’s mother, married and left it.” “No, but I am your servant, uncle—your servant and daughter, whose duty and delight will be to wait on you and minister to your comfort,” murmured Palma. “Breakfast is ready, ma’am,” said Polly, the elderly negro woman, opening the parlor door. “Come, my dear,” said Mr. Cleve, drawing Palma’s arm within his own and leading her to the room, where the table was waiting and a splendid fire was burning. “Where is Mr. Stuart and Mrs. Pole?” inquired Palma, looking around. “Go find them, Hatty,” ordered the master. But as he spoke Cleve entered the room by the side door and laughingly greeted his wife with the ironical question whether she was really “up for all day?” “You should have waked me,” said Palma. “No, no, he should not. I hold with the Koran and ‘never awaken a sleeper’ unless, indeed, the occasion is sufficiently important, which it was not this morning,” said Mr. Cleve as they all sat down to breakfast. Mrs. Pole came in, convoyed by Hatty, who had found her upstairs setting Palma’s room in order, and had taken upon herself to instruct the good old woman that “age-able ole white ladies didn’t make up no beds when there was colored young girls to do it for ’em.” When Mrs. Pole had greeted the company and taken her seat the master of the house asked the blessing and breakfast went on. After the morning meal was ended and the table cleared away Mr. Cleve said to Palma: “Now, my dear, when you feel disposed call Polly to show you all over the house. And you will make any alterations you see fit, choose any rooms that you may prefer for your private apartments, and make a list of any furniture or household utensils that you may need or may like, and they shall be bought. There is a good sleigh in the carriage house. If you would like to take a drive, send Hatty to the stables to tell Josias to clean it out and harness the horses. Do whatever you like, my child.” “Thank you, dear uncle. I wish I knew what you would like, and that I would do.” “I would like you to be happy, my child.”