It was pleasant sitting there in that fragrant, sunny drawing-room, with two of the most gracious and graceful women in England.

Yet it was hard.

I had gone there purposely to tell the story of my love, and now I was condemned to sit for hours by Agatha's side and say nothing to her.
"Perhaps fortune may favor me," I thought; "Lady Thesiger may leave the room, and then I will not lose a moment." How fervently I blessed these Cherokees before the day was ended no one will ever know.

Lady Thesiger never left us; Agatha worked very hard.
Looking at the sweet, calm, high-bred face, I wondered if she knew that a lover, with his heart on fire, sat near her.
Lunch came--we went to the dining-room.

Lady Thesiger told us we had only half an hour to spare; she had promised the duchess to send everything in that evening, and she did not wish to break her word.
"It is worse than slavery," I said, and Lady Thesiger laughed, little knowing why I was so impatient.
Back again to work.