The man stood waiting and bowing. Captain Clifton snatched his hat, saying— “Let my horse be brought round, without delay, Dandy, and tell your master, when he returns, that he shall hear from me at Hardbargain.” When the man had bowed and retired, Captain Clifton passed out through the open leaf of the window, into the piazza, and thence down into the lawn, to speak to Frank, who was just entering from the garden with Mrs. Clifton on his arm. Georgia saw at a glance, that her train of gunpowder had caught, and the magazine had blown up, and her dark, beautiful, demoniac, witching face lighted up with a lurid joy for one unguarded instant, and then all was self-recollection, self-control, and sweet, smooth, serene, alluring glamour. Bowing deeply to Mrs. Clifton, he said— “Madam, an unexpected event sends me from Clifton this evening. Pray make my adieus to my uncle and cousin. And permit me to commend my friend here to your hospitable care until such time as he pleases to become my guest at Hardbargain—if, indeed, he will not ride thither with me to-night,” he added, turning to Frank. Fairfax was too surprised to speak. Mrs. Clifton, who was not surprised at all, yet affected much interest, said, archly— “Oh, but we shall see you back very early to-morrow morning!” “I regret to add, madam, that it is not likely,” he said, with another bow; then turning to Frank, he asked— “Will you ride with me to-night, Fairfax?” Frank glanced at the lady on his arm, and then looking rebukingly at Clifton, begged to be excused. “Well, then, you are my guest, Fairfax, and my mother has often pressed you to give her a few weeks of your company. Join me at Hardbargain as soon as possible—the sooner the better. To-morrow even—” “_To-morrow!_” archly smiled the wily lady. “_To-morrow_, I fancy, his attendance and your own will be required _here_. Do you _forget_?—Well, that is the worst instance of absence of mind I ever saw or heard of! A young bridegroom to forget, for an instant, his wedding-day! Too bad, even for _you_, the notoriously-absent-minded Archer Clifton!” Not wishing to enter into explanations, Captain Clifton merely replied with another bow—a most convenient, safe and polite manner of answer, since, without lack of courtesy, it committed nothing. Then, taking leave of both lady and gentleman, and repeating his invitation to Frank, he turned and went to take his horse from the servant that held it, threw himself up into the saddle, and, with a parting wave of his hat, rode away at full speed. “Clifton looks darkly—what can be the matter?” asked Frank. “Oh, nothing! probably Mrs. Clifton, of Hardbargain, has been troubled with some refractory servant, and has sent for her son to come up and reduce him to order—or possibly there may be some dispute or difficulty in settling the demands of the hired harvest hands. They are often even dishonest in their extortions.”