which I thankfully accepted.

"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly;
"when you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the
plantation."

In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the
tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out
and explaining every thing. She also showed me the cows, store pigs,
and poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and
pretended to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and
once or twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we
returned, and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and
the other in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some
questions of her about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a
year? She replied that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.

"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.

"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"
replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it
round."

"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?"
inquired I.

"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the
drying-sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will
all be housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from
this the sloop will take it round."

"But is it not very expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to
have her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.

"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one
ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the
settlement, did do so once. There is another river, about twenty miles
farther down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am
told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than
perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never
visited."

"Then your servants take her round?"

"Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me."

"But you have but two."

"Not till you came--one died; but now I have three," and she smiled at
me again.

If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would have
said to her, "Do any thing, I beg, but smile."

I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in the
tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens, and bring
them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed--

"I don