eyes light up so. Pohlen," he said, turning to the adjutant, "you
seemed to be unfortunate in your remarks to her during dinner; those
lovely lips curled as scornfully as if you had seriously offended her,
and her great eyes glowed like fire, as she looked away off, over your
head."

The gentleman addressed laughed as if amused. "And yet I only ventured
on some complimentary speeches. I asked if all the Creoles were as
beautiful as herself. That was surely flattering enough, and I think
this little Moravian ought, by this time, to possess some of the
humility they pride themselves so much on, and not toss her head so
haughtily and look at me so contemptuously."

The gentlemen were comfortably smoking in the veranda, after dinner;
and Alexander, who sat on the steps, half hidden by a large
syringa-bush in full bloom, flushed deeply at Pohlen's words. In a
sharp tone of reprimand, he said:

"My friend, Creole is a term which is not at all agreeable to some
people; for the rest, flattery is often another name for insult;
perhaps the young lady considered yours as such."

"Do you think so?" drawled out Pohlen. "That is altogether a new thing
to me. A lady of higher quality would at least have known how to
receive homage offered to her; and a second time I will not put up with
a rebuff from this Moravian girl, but will treat her as she does me."

Alexander colored with anger, and his blood boiled. It was only by a
powerful effort that he controlled himself sufficiently to answer in a
tolerably calm voice: