“Mother tells me you were in Baltimore, in that swell girls’ school on North Charles Street when I was a student at the University?” “Yes, and we gave reception after reception to the Hopkins men and you never once honoured us with your presence.” “But I didn’t know you were there, Miss Sallie.” “Of course not. If you had, I wouldn’t speak to you now. They said you were a recluse. That you never went into society and didn’t speak to a woman for four years.” “How did you hear that?” “Bob St. Clare told me after I came home by way of apology for your bad manners in so shamefully neglecting a young woman from your own state.” “I ’ll make amends, now.” “Oh! I’m not suffering from loneliness as I did then. You know Bob put us up to inviting you to deliver the address. He said you were the only orator in North Carolina.” “Bob’s the best friend I ever had. We entered college together at fifteen, and became inseparable friends.” He helped her from the carriage and she ran lightly up the high stoop. “Now come here and look at the view of the river before Papa comes and begins to talk about the tremendous water power in the falls.” He followed her to the end of the long porch overlooking the river. Behind the house the hill abruptly plunged downward to the waters’ edge in a mountainous cliff. The river wound around this cliff past the house, emerging into a valley where it described a graceful curve almost doubling on itself and rolled softly away amid green overhanging willows and towering sycamores till lost in the distance toward the blue spurs of King’s Mountain. “A glorious view!” said Gaston, looking long and lovingly at the silver surface of the river. “Do you love the water, Mr. Gaston?” “Passionately. I was born among the hills, but the first time I saw the ocean sweeping over five miles of sand reefs and breaking in white thundering spray at my feet, I stood there on a sand dune on our wild coast and gazed entranced for an hour without moving. Of all the things God ever made on this earth I love the waters of the sea, and all moving water suggests it to me. That river says, I must hurry to the sea!” “It is strange we should have such similar tastes, she said seriously. But it did not seem strange to him. Somehow he expected to find her agree with every whim and fancy of his nature. “Now we will find Mama. She is such an invalid she rarely goes out. Papa will be home any minute.” “We are glad to welcome you Mr. Gaston,” said her mother in a kindly manner. “I’m sure you’ve enjoyed the drive this beautiful day if Sallie hasn’t been trying to tease you. The boys say she’s very tiresome at times.” “Why Mama, I’m surprised at you. The idea of such a thing! There’s not a word of truth in it, is there, Mr. Gaston?” “Certainly not, Miss Sallie. I ’ll testify, Mrs. Worth, that your daughter has been simply charming.”