DESSALINES' GARDEN PARTY
again upon his stallion; instead, he rode a large, docile animal. To her surprise and a trifle to her amusement he had, upon next meeting Leyden, burst immediately into a roar of typical negro laughter, accompanied by thigh slappings, wags of the head, utterly forgetful, as far as Virginia could see, of the naturalist's curt reprimands, and remembering only his jokes; yet it was most evident that he was afraid of Leyden; not coweringly, but respectfully; also, that he liked him, was rather devoted to him, and pleased beyond expression at any mark of approval from the Hollander.
The quality in Dessalines which had first appealed to Virginia, his uncouth superhuman strength, had lately been dormant of demonstration. His calls had been conventional; the weather had been too bad for out of door athletics—riding, boating, tennis; Dessalines told them that he had been working hard reading international law and political economy. Giles was evidently very fond of the Haytian, as what right-minded Englishman would not be after the heroic manner in which he had saved Virginia's life and his own, to say nothing of the wonderful way in which he had maintained the honor of the county on the cricket field.
Sir Henry approved of Dessalines and was interested in him and his work. Lady Maltby was mildly fascinated; there never arose a question regarding his caste; he was a gentleman, a nobleman for that matter, although of a patent at which one might smile indulgently; but he was clean and well conducted, well educated, and possessed of a style and presence which carried with it no admission that he was not the equal of any.
Leyden looked on with no comment; talked with Vir-
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