She would be the mistress of the most splendid place in West Tennessee.

She secretly aspired to be a brilliant hostess.

She could remember when the doors of Belle Plain were open to whoever had the least claim to distinction--statesmen and speculators in land; men who were promoting those great schemes of improvement, canals and railroads; hard-featured heroes of the two wars with England--a diminishing group; the men of the modern army, the pathfinders, and Indian fighters, and sometimes a titled foreigner.

She wondered if Tom had maintained the traditions of the place.

She found that Carrington had heard of Belle Plain.