“I presume not,” said the lady.  “We have never met before, and yet I knew you instantly.”

“Knew me!  How?” asked Fanny.

“From description,” replied the lady.  “You have been so accurately described to me by our mutual friend Miss Woodburn, of New Orleans, that I could not mistake you.”

“Florence Woodburn!  New Orleans!” exclaimed Fanny.  “And are you from New Orleans, and do you know Florence, and have you seen Julia?”

To all these questions the stranger answered “Yes,” continuing, “and now let me introduce myself.  I am Lida Gibson, but I might as well be John Smith for any idea my name will convey.  However, I am from New Orleans, and know Florence and your Uncle William well.  Just before I left the city, I made your sister’s acquaintance.  When she learned I was coming this way, she said I might possibly see you, and made me the bearer of many messages of love.”

Fanny had never heard of Lida Gibson, but it was sufficient that she knew her uncle and Julia, so her hand was immediately offered, and the remainder of the evening the two young girls promenaded the piazza arm in arm, talking of their distant homes and absent friends.

“Where did you see Julia?” asked Fanny.

“Your uncle’s house was not quite ready, consequently he and Julia were spending a few days at the residence of Dr. Lacey,” answered Lida.

“Dr. Lacey!” said Fanny, in some surprise.  “Julia at Dr. Lacey’s?”

“Yes, why not?” said Lida, laughing merrily at Fanny’s manner.  “There is nothing improper about that, for Dr. Lacey’s father was then absent, and his mother, for the time, stayed with her son.  I fancied it was not at all unpleasant either to Dr. Lacey or Julia, that they were thus thrown together, and I should not wonder if the doctor should one day call you sister!”

Lida Gibson, whom our readers will recollect as having met at Mabel Mortimer’s party in New Orleans, was a thoughtless, but kind-hearted girl, and never felt happier than when employed in canvassing matches.  On the morning when the Cameron party arrived at the Springs, she had sent her brother to learn the names of the newcomers.  On his return he mentioned Fanny Middleton as being one of the new arrivals, so ’twas not surprising that Lida should so readily recognize her.

As days passed on Lida too heard of the supposed engagement between Fanny and Frank Cameron, and for once kept silent upon the subject, at least in Fanny’s presence.  Dearly as she loved to discuss such matters, she felt there was something in the character of her new friend which forbade an approach to anything like jesting about so personal an affair as one’s own engagement.  She, however, fully believed the report, for everything she saw tended to confirm it, and she was anxious to return home that she might carry the important news to Julia and Dr. Lacey.  Poor Fanny!  The clouds were gathering darkly about her, but she, all unconscious of the consequence, talked, laughed, rode and sang with Frank, never thinking that she was thus confirming Lida in a belief which would tend to remove Dr. Lacey farther and farther from her.  Could Lida have heard a conversation which one evening took place between Mrs. Cameron and Fanny, different, very different would have been the report which she carried back.