'Good Heavens, Jenny!' his Lordship cried, 'you are more beautiful than ever, I swear.' 'Welcome, my Lord, to Virginia. You are come, I trust, to accept the hospitality of this poor house?' 'Madame, you honour me. It is a lovely house with a view the most charming in the world. I knew not that Virginia was half so fine a country.' 'Indeed, if English people did know--they would all come over. I pray your Lordship not to speak too well of us. There are some people in the old country that we would not willingly welcome in the New.' So she led him into the inner room and sent for Madeira to refresh him. 'Your Lordship has something to tell me,' she said, beginning to shiver and shake. 'You did not come all the way from England only to wish me Good-morning.' 'I bring you, Jenny, what I promised, your full pardon and release. It is in the hands of the Governor. You can return, now, whenever you please.' 'I was beginning to forget, my Lord, that I am but a prisoner still and a convict. These people with whom I live, the best people, I very believe, in the whole world, have almost made me forget that fact. But I thank your Lordship all the same. I thank you most humbly and most gratefully. Except my Cousin Will--my husband's cousin--there is no more loyal and faithful gentleman than my Lord Brockenhurst.' 'I have done what I can. I could do no more.' 'My lord, you have ridden thirty miles. You are tired? No? Then--let me ask you one more favour. Tell me about this matter to-morrow. Sleep first upon it,' for she saw his purpose in his eyes. 'Think, I pray you, partly of what I am and of what you are; partly of your own dignity; partly of how one such as I am should behave towards one such as you.' She rose. 'I will now,' she said, 'if you are not tired, show you our gardens and our tobacco-fields.' His Lordship took supper with us. I saw that he was pleased at the little state and ceremony with which we surrounded Jenny. I saw, as well, the love in his eyes, which he could not tear away from her face. After supper, we had a little concert Tom took the harpsichord, and I took the violin. First we played a piece, as a duet; then Tom played while Alice sang; then we all, with Jack our Butler, who had an excellent bass, while Tom sang alto and I the tenor, sang four-part songs, and I saw how his Lordship watched the negroes sitting about outside and crowding up the doorway. I am sure he took home the belief that we were a happy household, blacks and all; and that Jenny was the mistress over all. After breakfast in the morning Jenny bade Alice and me come with her while she received his Lordship. She took her place at the window, sitting in her high chair. Lord Brockenhurst entered, bearing certain papers in his hand. 'My lord,' she said, 'you can speak with perfect freedom. I entreat you to use perfect freedom before my cousins. I have no secrets from them; they can tell you perhaps more about myself than I ever will speak--for myself.'