"Don't interrupt me, Aunt Harriet. Give me the opportunity you would give to Dr. Barlow Blade, the trance medium. Everything I see in this country belongs to a state of arrested development, and it has been arrested at a most interesting point. It is picturesque. It is colonial. I am amazed that this fact has not been dwelt on by people who write about the South." "The conservatism that prevents progress, or stands in the way of it, is a crime," said Miss Tewksbury, pressing her thin lips together firmly. She had once been on the platform in some of the little country towns of New England, and had made quite a reputation for pith and fluency. "Ah, dear aunt, that sounds like an extract from a lecture. We can have progress in some things, but not in others. We have progressed in the matter of conveniences, comforts, and luxuries, but in what other directions? Are we any better than the people who lived in the days of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison? Is the standard of morality any higher now than it was in the days of the apostles?" "Don't talk nonsense, Helen," said Miss Tewksbury. "We have a higher civilization than the apostles witnessed. Morality is progressive." "Well," said Helen, with a sigh, "it is a pity these people have discarded shoe-buckles and knee-breeches." "Your queer notions make me thirsty, child," said Miss Tewksbury, producing a silver cup from her satchel. "I must get a drink of water." "Permit me, madam," said a sonorous voice behind them; and a tall gentleman seized the cup, and bore it away. "It is the distinguished general!" exclaimed Helen in a tragic whisper, "and he must have heard our speeches." "I hope he took them down," said Miss Tewksbury snappishly. "He will esteem you as a sympathizer." "Did I say anything ridiculous, Aunt Harriet?" "Dear me! you must ask your distinguished general," replied Miss Tewksbury triumphantly. General Garwood returned with the water, and insisted on fetching more. Helen observed that he held his hat in his hand, and that his attitude was one of unstudied deference. "The conductor tells me, madam," he said, addressing himself to Miss Tewksbury, "that you have tickets for Azalia. I am going in that direction myself, and I should be glad to be of any service to you. Azalia is a poor little place, but I like it well enough to live there. I suppose that is the reason the conductor told me of your tickets. He knew the information would be interesting." "Thank you," said Miss Tewksbury with dignity. "You are very kind," said Miss Eustis with a smile.