Was the scene we had just witnessed only a piece of Southern exaggeration?
Was the woman a creature devoid of nerves or feeling of any kind; or was she simply a consummate actress?
Yet she was clearly not acting, for in the intervals of conversation, and even while talking, her dark eyes wandered carelessly around the room, with the easy self-confidence of a pretty woman.

We were beginning to talk of something else, when the Editor said suddenly, in a suppressed voice: "Hullo! What's the matter now ?" The woman had risen, and was hurriedly throwing her cloak over her shoulders.

But it was HER face that was now ashen and agitated, and we could see that her hands were trembling.

Her escort was assisting her, but was evidently as astonished as ourselves.

"Perhaps," he suggested hopefully, "if you wait a minute it will pass off." "No, no," she gasped, still hurriedly wrestling with her cloak.