I had even promised her--when she came home from Philadelphia so lofty and superior for her stopping a brace of years with Miss Carey at her Allendale Academy for Young Ladies--that if she mitigated not something of her haughtiness, I would kiss her fair, as if she were but a girl of the country.

Of these latter I may guiltily confess, though with no names, I had known many who rebelled little more than formally.
She stood in the shade of the stone pillar, where the ivy made a deep green, and held back her light blue skirt daintily, in her high-bred way; for never was a girl Sheraton who was not high-bred or other than fair to look upon in the Sheraton way--slender, rather tall, long cheeked, with very much dark hair and a deep color under the skin, and something of long curves withal.

They were ladies, every one, these Sheraton girls; and as Miss Grace presently advised me, no milkmaids wandering and waiting in lanes for lovers.
When I sprang down from Satan Miss Grace was but a pace or so away.

I put out a hand on either side of her as she stood in the shade, and so prisoned her against the pillar.

She flushed at this, and caught at my arm with both hands, which made me smile, for few men in that country could have put away my arms from the stone until I liked.