"I should like to see them together, they are such antipodal men. Does your father know him well?" "Does any one know him well?" "Yes, I know him. I do not like him. He is a savage, living by his instincts, with one element of civilization--he loves Beauty--beauty like yours." He turned pale when he said this, but went on. "He has never seen a woman like you; who has? Forgive me, but I watch you both." "I have perceived it." "I suppose so, and it makes you more willful." "You said you were but a boy." "Yes, but I have had one or two manly wickednesses. I have done with them, I hope." "So that you have leisure to pry into those of others." "You do not forgive me." "I like you; but what can I do?" "Keep up your sophistry to the last." CHAPTER XIX. Alice and I were preparing for the first ball, when Charles came home, having been absent several weeks. The conservatory was finished, and looked well, jutting from the garden-room, which we used often, since the weather had been cold. The flowers and plants it was filled with were more fragrant and beautiful than rare. I never saw him look so genial as when he inspected it with us. Alice was in good-humor, also, for he had brought her a set of jewels. "Is it not her birthday," he said, when he gave her the jewel case, "or something, that I can give Cassandra this?" taking a little box from his pocket. "Oh yes," said Alice; "show it to us." "Will you have it?" he asked me. I held out my hand, and he put on my third finger a diamond ring, which was like a star. "How well it looks on your long hand!" said Alice. "What unsuspected tastes I find I have!" I answered. "I am passionately fond of rings; this delights me." His swarthy face flushed with pleasure at my words; but, according to his wont, he said nothing. A few days after his return, a man came into the yard, leading a powerful horse chafing in his halter, which he took to the stable. Charles asked me to look at a new purchase he had made in Pennsylvania. The strange man was lounging about the stalls when we went in, inspecting the horses with a knowing air. "I declare, sir," said Jesse, "I am afeared to tackle this ere animal; he's a reglar brute, and no mistake." "He'll be tame enough; he is but four years old." "He's never been in a carriage," said the man. "Lead him out, will you?" The man obeyed. The horse was a fine creature, black, and thick-maned; but the whites of his eyes were not clear; they were streaked with red, and he attempted continually to turn his nostrils inside out. Altogether, I thought him diabolical. "What's the matter with his eyes?" Charles asked. "I think, sir," the man replied, "as how they got inflamed like, in the boat coming from New York. It's nothing perticalar, I believe." Alice declared it was too bad, when she heard there was another horse in the stable. She would not look at him, and said she would never ride with Charles when he drove him.