Instead of going by, he swung around the circle before the porch, and stopped at the steps, upon which the two ladies were sitting.
One of them was a white-haired woman of gentle mien; the other was a girl of eighteen or twenty with pretty, mischievous eyes.
Both the ladies looked up inquiringly as Dr.Bell and I stopped.
I lifted my hat.

It was the only thing I could think of to do at the moment.

At this they both nodded gravely.

Then we sat and stared at one another.
"Well ?" said the old lady, when the silence had become embarrassing.
I felt that I must say something, so I remarked: "This is a very pretty place you have here." At this, though the statement was quite true, they looked perplexed.
"Is there any message ?" asked the young woman, after another pause.
"Oh, no," I answered lightly.

"I was riding by and thought I'd take the liberty of coming up and telling you--telling you that although I am a Northerner and a stranger here, I love the South, the quaint old Southern customs, the lovely old houses, the delicious waffles, the--" "That is very gratifying," said she "I am sorry to say we are all out of waffles at present." "Oh, I don't want any now," I replied politely.
"Well, if you don't mind my asking, what _do_ you want ?" "I want," I said, desperately, "to see your groom for a moment, if possible." "He's gone to town," she replied.