The young man had just returned from Harvard College, where he had spent the previous five years.

Isabella was in her eighteenth year, and was admitted by all who knew her to be the handsomest girl, colored or white, in the city.

On this occasion, she was attired in a sky-blue silk dress, with deep black lace flounces, and bertha of the same.

On her well-moulded arms she wore massive gold bracelets, while her rich black hair was arranged at the back in broad basket plaits, ornamented with pearls, and the front in the French style (_a la Imperatrice_), which suited her classic face to perfection.
Marion was scarcely less richly dressed than her sister.
Henry Linwood paid great attention to Isabella, which was looked upon with gratification by her mother, and became a matter of general conversation with all present.

Of course, the young man escorted the beautiful quadroon home that evening, and became the favorite visitor at the house of Agnes.
It was on a beautiful moonlight night in the month of August, when all who reside in tropical climates are eagerly gasping for a breath of fresh air, that Henry Linwood was in the garden which surrounded Agnes' cottage, with the young quadroon at his side.