e that
covered her like unto a garment. And as no class of people enjoy telling
a story or airing their ideas more than do the colored race, Mammy
settled herself as if for a long speech, and began, feeling all the time
much pleased at Sally's attention:

"Now, ob course, I ain't for sayin' one word 'gainst my marster or
mistis, not by no means. Why, bress yo' young soul, I'se been part ob
de fambly most eber since Mars' Perc'val and Mistis Gabrelle wor
married. And I nussed Miss 'Cretia right f'om de day she wor borned, and
as for Mars' Lion, he's my babby shor!

"Law de deah sakes! dat lil scamp neber would let me out'n he sight till
he wor four yeah ole, and to dis berry day dat chile come to his ole
Mammy with his troubles."

Sally listened enchanted. Here were bits of family history such as she
had never for a moment expected to hear. She said, timidly:

"I do not see how a fine young gentleman can have troubles."

"Well, he do," said Mammy. "Now, fo' instance,--there's dat Miss
Ros'mond Earlscourt, she's got heaps ob money, and her face looks berry
well, too. And dese yere old famblies o' Virginny, they likes to keep to
demselves and marry and gib in marriage to one anudder 'cause there's
heaps o' fambly pride to 'em. Dat's all right, ob course, but let me
tell you, honey, I can see plain as day dat my Mars' Lion he ain't
goin' fo' to bind himse'f to no cousin or ennybody else till he wants
to. Dat Ros'mond, she a yeah ol'er dan Mars' Lion, and boys mostly falls
in love with girls ol'er than they are, when they's in bibs, _some_ ob
them does.

"And my mistis,"--Mammy whispered and rolled her eyes,--"she want dat
chile to make right up to Ros'mond, but he jus' won't do it! And he tell
his ole Mammy dat he goin' to hab his own way 'bout some tings if de
skies fall."

Then Mammy dropped her dreadful story-telling air as she said, in her
own sweet voice:

"Now, honey, I doan't expeck you'll eber tell a word o' what I'se been
sayin'! I mostly doan't tell fambly affairs, but you looked so sweet
with yo' reddy-gold hair, and dem holes in yo' cheeks, I was led on to
speak ob mine fo' once. Yo' won't be tellin, will you, missy?"

"No, oh, no!" said Sally, "I wouldn't for the world!"

"Dat's my kitten!" said Mammy, so caressingly that Sally smiled for very
joy. And, indeed, it appeared to her so pleasant a thing that the old
nurse of her Fairy Prince should have trusted her with a bit of family
matters that it