"Watch for Miss Odalite. She is out walking. As soon as she returns ask her to come immediately to me."
"Miss Odalite is comin', ma'am. I seen her just now a-comin' froo de souf gate," replied the negro boy.
"Then go and meet her, and ask her to come to me."
"Yes, ma'am," replied the boy, darting out to do his errand.
In a few moments Odalite came in, looking anxiously at her mother.
"You sent for me, mamma. You are not well. Have you a headache?" she inquired, tenderly.
"No, darling, a heartache, rather. Lay off your bonnet and coat, Odalite, and come here and sit beside me on this sofa."
Odalite obeyed, still full of vague forebodings.
"I hear, my love," said the lady, putting her arm around the girl's slight waist, as they sat together, "that a great honor has been offered you this morning."
"Do you understand me, darling?" the lady inquired, gently pressing the form of her child, and gazing fondly in her face.
"I--I--think I know what you allude to, mamma; but--I did not consider it an honor," faltered the girl, dropping her eyes.
"Col. Anglesea has offered you his hand. Is it not so?"
"Col. Anglesea is a gentleman of the highest social position. I congratulate you, my darling."
"But, mother! mother!" Odalite exclaimed in alarm. "I have declined Col. Anglesea's offer!"
"Have you, my dear? Then you acted very hastily and inconsiderately. You will think better of it and accept it," said the lady, very gravely.
"Oh, no, no, mamma! Never! never! How could I think of doing such a thing, when I am on the very eve of marriage with Le?"
"My daughter, you were too hasty in that matter also. That childish engagement--which was no binding one, after all--need not and must not prevent your forming a more desirable union with Col. Anglesea," urged the lady, almost in the very words used by the colonel himself when pressing his suit with Odalite.
"Oh, mother! mother! surely you do not advocate----Oh, mother! mother! Spare me! Do not urge me into such a dreadful act!" exclaimed the girl, starting up in a wild excitement.
"Sit down and calm yourself, my dear child, and listen to me."
Odalite threw herself on the sofa, and buried her face in its cushions.
"Col. Anglesea belongs to one of the noblest families in the north of England," continued the lady. "He is a neighbor and friend of my father. He can give you a high position among the landed gentry of England."