[104] He looked at the daintily clad figure at my side with an interrogative smile. "It would be a great favor to me," I put in hastily. "I had been thinking of late I would have to go alone, but if Miss Salome would not object, I should be pleased to go with her." "Of course you may," she answered readily. "I love both places very much, and the sisters are so sweet. Sister Hyacintha is my favorite,—a dear old nun with the face of a saint. Do you like old-timey, quiet places, Mr. Stone? St. Rose church is perhaps the oldest building in the county. St. Catherine's is not half a mile from it,[105] and the sisters conduct a boarding-school there. Had I been a Catholic, I doubtless would have received my education at that place." [105] I quickly assured her that I looked forward with much pleasure to our little trip, and asked her if we were to go horseback, or in the carriage. "Oh, horseback!" she exclaimed, with the delight of a child. "I believe you are a good horseman," she added archly. "Only fair," I responded, smiling. "Still I would much prefer to go that way. I enjoy the exercise so much." And so it was arranged. I had no dress for this sort of thing, and I felt a trifle out of place when she joined me on the porch arrayed in a complete riding habit of black. From her gauntlets to her silver-handled whip, her attire was complete. I flushed. "You know I am not accustomed to[106] riding—will you pardon my appearance?" [106] "It makes no difference whatever!" She laughed merrily. "The feathers don't make the bird, and I am perfectly satisfied." My mount was the same animal I had been used to, and the horse which had been led out for her was a wiry, dapple-gray mare of impatient blood. I knew the correct thing to do, and while I feared that I could not perform the service successfully, I determined to try. So as she walked towards the fretful mare which a negro was with difficulty restraining, I stepped forward, doffed my hat, and with "Permit me, Miss Salome," I bent, and hollowed my hand for the reception of her foot. With the naturalness and grace of a queen she placed the sole upon my palm, and I lifted her to the spring as though she had been a feather, and she[107]
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