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 Moultrie, but fewer still disliked his company. It was the cold-bloodedness of Manning which most appealed to Leyden; there are few fascinations equal to that of attractive cold-bloodedness, and Manning was attractive mentally, physically, and immorally.

Virginia had culled all of the emotional ingredients of their heritage, barring perhaps anger. One could look at Virginia and see, young as she was, where passions suppressed had carved their initials upon the wall of their prison; in Manning they either beat their heads against the walls or were coldly set at liberty.

"Are you growling, Moultrie?" asked Leyden, with his quiet smile, "or asking advice?" The naturalist was chary of unsolicited personalities; bountiful at the request of his friends.

"Both," said Manning. "What do you think I should do? I've got to go back to Carolina, but I can't go back and leave this here brute messing about."

"Why not take Miss Moultrie with you?" asked Leyden.

"The place would bore her horribly; our plantation is on the Caw Caw Swamp; we have no near neighbors. Of course she might stay in Charleston, but that would be stupid for her; in any case she would have to remain in the North until autumn; the rice belt is rotten with fever. You see, Leyden, I have an idea that it will take a good deal of a man to hold my sister's affections; Giles is a fine chap, but he is young and not especially subtle. I am very anxious for this marriage to take place, for I am sure that once married they will be very happy, and I am afraid that if I take her so far away something may come up to interfere with the match." 123