“But, my dear, I gave him my word of honor!”

“What if you did?  There are exceptions to every rule.”

“Not in the Hildreth code of honor, Kate.”

“Nonsense!  What does a colored coachman understand about that!  Why, Evadne, you cannot go to prayer meeting alone!” she exclaimed, as Evadne came into the room with her hat on.  “Your uncle is busy and I am too tired, so there is no way for you to get home.”

“I am going to Dyce’s church, Aunt Kate.  Pompey will bring me home.”

“Among a lot of shouting negroes!  You must be crazy, child!”

“Their souls are white, Aunt Kate, and there is no color line on the Rock of Ages.”

“Oh, well, tastes differ,” said her aunt carelessly, “but it is a strange fancy for Judge Hildreth’s niece.  Next thing you will suggest going to board with Pompey.”

“I might fare a good deal worse,” said Evadne with her soft laugh.  “Dyce keeps her rooms like waxwork and she is a capital cook.”

“Really, Evadne, I am in despair!  You have not an iota of proper pride.  How are you going to maintain your position in society?”

“I don’t believe I care to test the question, Aunt Kate; but I think my position will maintain itself.”

“Well said, Evadne,” said her uncle, looking up from his paper.  “You will never forget you are a Hildreth, eh?”

“Higher than that, uncle,” said Evadne softly.  “I am a sister of Jesus Christ.”

“I don’t know what to make of the child,” said Mrs. Hildreth discontentedly, as the door closed behind her.  “I believe she would rather associate with such people than with those of her own class.  She has a bowing acquaintance with the most outre looking individuals I ever saw.  I really don’t think Dr. Jerome is wise setting young girls to visit in the German quarter.  It doesn’t hurt Marion, now.  She only does it as a disagreeable duty and is immensely relieved when her round of visits is made for the month, but Evadne takes as much interest in them as if they were her relations.  Next thing we know, she will be wanting to take up slum work.  I hope she won’t come to any harm down among those crazy blacks.  They always seem to get possessed the moment they touch religion.”

“I do not think Evadne will ever come to any harm,” the Judge said slowly.  “The Lord takes pretty good care of his own.”

His wife looked at him with a puzzled expression.  “I fully intended going to prayer meeting myself to-night,” she said, “but it gets to be a great tax,—­an evening out of every week,—­and I do dread the night air so much.”

Mrs. Judge Hildreth dipped her jeweled fingers into the perfumed water of her finger glass and dried them on her silk-fringed napkin.  “Oh, Lawrence, don’t forget Judge Tracer’s dinner to-morrow night.  You will have to come home earlier than usual, for it is such a long drive, and it will never do to keep his mulligatawny waiting.  And, by the way, I made a new engagement for you to-day.  Mrs. General Leighton has invited us to join the Shakespearean Club which she is getting up.  It is to be very select.  Will meet at the different houses, you know, with a choice little supper at the close.  She says the one she belonged to in Atlanta was a brilliant affair.  She comes from one of Georgia’s first families, you remember.”