II

CAMELLIA

You thought to break a country heart
For pastime, ere you went to town.
--_Tennyson._


"Did you say Camellia is going to stop here on her way home?" asked the
Gay Lady.

"For a few days," I assented.

The Gay Lady was standing in front of the closet in her room, in which
hung a row of frocks, on little hangers covered with pale blue ribbon.
She sighed pensively as she gazed at the garments. Then she looked at me
with a smile. "Would you mind if I keep to my room while Camellia is
here?" she asked.

"I should mind very much," said I. "Besides, I've only two good dresses
myself."

I went down to the porch. "Camellia is going to stop and make us a short
visit on her way home from the South," I announced.

The Skeptic sat up. "Great guns!" he ejaculated. "I must send all my
trousers to be pressed."

"Who's Camellia?" queried the Philosopher, looking up calmly from