A row of rather silent but important-looking gentlemen, morning cigars afire, gradually formed ranks in arm-chairs under the colonnade; people passing and repassing began to greet each other with more vivacity; veranda and foyer became almost animated as the crowd increased. And now a demure bride or two emerged in all the radiance of perfect love and raiment, squired by _him_, braving the searching sunshine with confidence in her beauty, her plumage, and a kindly planet; and, in pitiful contrast, here and there some waxen-faced invalid, wheeled by a trained nurse, in cap and cuffs, through sunless halls into the clear sea air, to lie motionless, with leaden lids scarcely parted, in the glory of a perfect day. A gentleman, rotund of abdomen, wearing a stubby red moustache, screwed a cigar firmly into the off corner of his mouth and, after looking aggressively at Hamil for fully half a minute, said: "Southern Pacific sold off at the close." "Indeed," said Hamil. "It's like picking daisies," said the gentleman impressively. And, after a pause, during which he continued to survey the younger man: "What name?" he inquired, as though Hamil had been persistently attempting to inform him. Hamil told him good-naturedly. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hamil. My name is Rawley--probably the name is familiar to you?--Ambrose Rawley"--he coughed--"by profession a botanist." Hamil smiled, recognising in the name the most outrageously expensive of New York florists who had made a fortune in cut flowers. "Have a drink?" persisted Mr. Rawley. "No? Too early for you? Well, let's get a couple of niggers and wheel-chairs." But Hamil declined with the easy good-humour which characterised him; and a few moments later, learning at the office that his aunt would receive him, followed his negro guide through endless carpeted labyrinths and was ushered by a maid into a sunny reception-room. "Garry!--you dear boy!" exclaimed his amazingly youthful aunt, holding out both arms to him from the door of her bedroom, partly ajar. "No--don't come near me; I'm not even in complete negligee yet, but I will be in one minute when Titine fastens me up and makes the most of my scanty locks--" She looked out at him with a laugh and gave her head a little jerk forward, and her splendid chestnut hair came tumbling down in the sunshine. "You're prettier than ever," said her nephew; "they'll take us for bride and groom as usual. I say, Constance, I suppose they've followed you down here." "Who, Garry,"--very innocently. "The faithful three, Colonel Vetchen, Cuyp, and old--I mean the gracefully mature Courtlandt Classon. Are they here?" "I believe so, dear," admitted his aunt demurely. "And, Garry, so is Virginia Suydam." "Really," he said, suddenly subdued as his aunt who was forty and looked twenty-five came forward in her pretty chamber-gown, and placed two firm white arms around him and kissed him squarely and with vigour.