down from Charleston on the previous day. It seemed to Sylvia she had
never seen so many negroes before in all her life. Neat colored maids
were flitting about the house, colored men were at work in the garden,
and colored children peered smilingly around the corner of the house.

A colored maid was told to look after Grace and Sylvia, and she led the
way up the beautiful spiral staircase to a pleasant chamber overlooking
the garden. There were two small white beds, with a little mahogany
light-stand between them. On this stand stood a tall brass candlestick.
There were two dressing-tables, and two small bureaus, and a number of
comfortable chintz-covered chairs. The floor was of dark, shining wood,
and beside each bed was a long, soft white rug.

Sylvia and Grace knew that this room had been arranged especially for
any of Flora's young friends whom she might entertain, and they both
thought it was one of the nicest rooms that anyone could imagine. The
smiling colored maid brushed their hair, helped them into the fresh
muslin dresses they had each brought, and when they were ready opened
the door and followed them down the stairs where they found Flora
awaiting them.

"Luncheon is all ready," she said, and led the way into the dining-room,
where Mrs. Hayes and Flora's two older brothers, Ralph and Philip, were
waiting for them. The boys were tall, good-looking lads, and as they
were in the uniform of the Military School of Charleston, of which they
were pupils, Sylvia thought they must be quite grown up, although Ralph
was only sixteen and his brother two years younger. They had ridden out
on horseback from Charleston, and had just arrived.

Flora introduced them to Sylvia, and Grace greeted them as old