“Oh, Johnson!” she gasped, and then, anxious to propitiate the colonel, she plunged in desperately. “It’s been such a beautiful year,” she said anxiously. “I don’t think I ever remember a season when things held so well. Nothing looks rusty yet.” The colonel rubbed his chin. “Except old men, madam,” he remarked with a twinkle. She laughed tremulously, winking back her tears. “I feel like an old woman, colonel.” He shook his head, but his eyes were not on her. They had passed on to her son. William, flushed and silent, sat with his eyes down. The colonel, sharply aware of the tension in the air, wondered. Could Jinny make this lummox see? At the thought of Jinny the old man’s eyes lighted, and he looked ahead toward his own gates. They stood open, and he could see the old ginkgo-tree beside the door, already turning yellow as gold in the sun. The horses turned placidly, the wheel grated slightly on the stone curb, and they were going up the drive to the house. “She’s in the west room,” said the colonel, glancing toward two windows where the shutters were half-closed. “We got a nurse the second night. I wasn’t willing to have Jinny wear herself out. She was up with her for twenty-four hours on a stretch.” Mrs. Carter made an inarticulate sound, glancing at William in a frightened way, but no one spoke until the wagonette stopped at the door. Daniel Carter came down the piazza steps to meet them. “She’s better,” he said soberly. “Virginia thinks she knows her.” His mother clung to his hand as he helped her out. “Oh, Dan, why didn’t you tell us?” she whispered. He glanced grimly at William. “I thought it was no use, mother.” She knew what he meant, and she, too, glanced at William. He was following Colonel Denbigh up the steps, but his face was set and hard. “What is it, Dan? How is she, really?” his mother asked anxiously. “I felt so ashamed when the colonel told us. We’ve been very unkind to her, Dan.” He nodded. They were behind the others, but he saw Virginia on the stairs. “Fanchon has been delirious and very ill,” he answered in a low voice; “but Dr. Barbour says she’ll get well. The Denbighs have been most noble, most kind to her.” “You mean Jinny,” his mother murmured. “I mean both.” His eyes softened. “Virginia is an angel!” Mrs. Carter, looking at him suddenly, winked back her tears. She knew now--he loved Virginia! She patted his arm, but she was looking at the stairs. Virginia, in a pink morning gown, the short sleeves falling away from her white arms, came down, bearing a tray. She saw them at the door, and she blushed, but she put down the tray before she spoke. “Daniel, please take your mother into the drawing-room and tell her about Fanchon.” She took a step forward and held out her hand. “William, I hope you’re coming with me?” she said. He took her hand, aware that his father and Colonel Denbigh, his mother and Daniel, were all watching. His blush was deeper than hers.