- sion which made the old-fashioned mirrors on the
drawing-room wall ring again. The Colonel brought down his fist and raved. "By Jove, sir, this is intolerable. My black boy, Petrarch (Petrarch continued to be the Colonel's boy), knows more about the subject than you do; and he's the biggest fool I ever saw. I'll be hanged, sir, if your statements are worth refuting." Pembroke withstood the sortie gallantly, and at intervals charged the enemy in splendid style, reducing the Colonel to oaths and splutterings and despair.
Olivia sat in a low chair by the round mahogany table, on which the old-fashioned lamp burned softly, casting mellow lights and shades upon her graceful figure. Occasionally a faint smile played about her eyes—whereat Pembroke seemed to gain inspiration, and attacked the Colonel's theories with renewed vigor.
Upon the Colonel's invitation he remained all night—the common mode of social intercourse in Virginia. Next morning, the Colonel was ripe for argument. Pembroke, however, to his immense disgust, refused to enter the lists and spent the morning dawdling with Olivia in the garden. About noon, the Colonel, in a rage sent Petrarch after the renegades. Three times did he return without them. The fourth time Petrarch's patience was exhausted.
"Marse French, fur de Lord's sake come ter ole marse. He done got de sugar in de glasses, an' de ice cracked up, an' he fyarly stan'nin' on he hade.
