He was dressed in his best for this evening; and if his attire was not chosen as Ludwell Cary would have chosen, it was yet the dress of a gentleman, and it was worn with dignity.
Music was playing, as he paused at the half-open door,--he could see Miss Dandridge at the harpsichord.

The room seemed very light.

For a moment he ceased to be the master-builder and sank to the estate of the apprentice, awkward and eaten with self-distrust; the next, with a characteristic abrupt motion of head and hand, he recovered himself, waved Joab aside, and boldly crossed the threshold.
Unity, at the harpsichord, was playing over, very rapidly, one after another, reels, hornpipes, jigs, and Congos, and looking, meanwhile, slyly out of velvet eyes at Fairfax Cary, who had asked for a particularly tender serenade.

He stood beside her, and strove for injured dignity.

It was a day of open courtship, and polite Albemarle watched with admiration the younger Cary's suit to Miss Dandridge.