The guest of this strange man was restless, he knew not why; there were books in abundance, and their authors’ names were read over and over again as he rummaged the book-cases he knew not for what.  First one and then another was pulled out from its companions, the title-page read and replaced again, only to take another.  Idly he was turning the pages of one, when a voice surprised him and sweetly inquired at his elbow if he found amusement or edification in his employment.  “I must apologize for my rudely leaving you last night.  I hope I am incapable of deceit or unnecessary concealments.  I was hurt and angry, and I went away in a passion.  Yours is a gentle nature, you do not suffer your feelings to torture and master you.  I should not, but I am incapable of the effort necessary to their control.  It is best with me that they burn out, but their very ashes lie heavily upon my heart.  Our clime is a furnace, and her children are flame, at least, strange sir, some of them are a self-consuming flame.  I feel that is my nature.  Is not this an honest confession?  I could explain further in extenuation of my strange nature.  It was not my nature until it was burned into my very soul.  I am very young, but the bitterness of my experiences makes me old, at least in feeling.  But you are not my father confessor—­then why do I talk to you as to one long known?  Because—­perhaps—­but never mind the reason.  I know my cousin has whispered something to you of me; my situation, my nature—­is it not so?”

“Ah! you would be my father confessor.  You must not interrogate, but if you would know, ask your cousin.”

“O! no, I could not.  Is it not strange that woman will confide to the strange man, what she will not to the kindred woman?  Woman will not sympathize with woman; she goes not to her for comfort, for sympathy, for relief.  Is this natural?  Men lean on one another, women only on man.  Is this natural?  Is it instinctive? or an acquired faculty?  Do not laugh at me, I am very foolish and very sad; such a day should sadden every one.  But my cousin is very cheerful, twitters and flits about like an uncaged canary, and is as cheerful when it rains all day, as when the sun in her glory gladdens all the earth and everything thereon.  I am almost a Natchez, for I worship the sun.  How I am running on!  You are gentle and kind, are you not?  You are quick, perceptive—­you have seen that I am not happy—­sympathize, but do not pity me.  That is a terrible struggle between prudence and inclination.  There, now I am done—­don’t you think me very foolish?”

“Miss Alice—­(will you allow me this familiarity?)”

“Yes, when we are alone; not before cousin or my man brother.” (She almost choked with the word.) “Not before strangers—­we are not strangers when alone.  You read my nature, as I do yours, and we are not strangers when alone.  It is not long acquaintance which makes familiar friends.  The mesmeric spark will do more than years of intercommunication, where there is no congeniality—­and do it in a little precious moment.  The bloody arrow we held in common was an electric chain.  I learned you at the plucking of that arrow from the cotton bale—­in your strange, wild garb; but never mind—­what were you going to say?”