, and cast aside his
coat; then he lighted a blackened pipe, filled his glass, and sank back
in his chair. The long hours of darkness were all before him, and his
senses clothed themselves in rich content. Once more his glance rested
on the boy. Here, indeed, was a guest of whom one might make much and
not err--he felt all the benevolence of his nature flow toward him. Ten
dollars!

"Certainly the tavern would have been no place for you! Well, thank God,
it wasn't necessary for you to go there. You are more than welcome here.
I tell you, when you know this place as I know it, you'll regard every
living soul here with suspicion. Keep 'em at arm's length!" he sank his
voice to an impressive whisper. "In particular, I warn you against a
certain Solomon Mahaffy. You'll see much of him; I haven't known how to
rebuff the fellow without being rude--he sticks to me like my shadow.
He's profited by my charity and he admires my conversation and affects
my society, but don't tell him you have so much as a rusty copper, for
he will neither rest nor eat nor sleep until he's plucked you--tell him
nothing--leave him to me. I keep him--there--" the judge extended his
fat hands, "at arm's length. I say to him metaphorically speaking--'so
close, but no closer. I'll visit you when sick, I'll pray with you when
dying, I'll chat with you, I'll eat with you, I'll smoke with you,
and if need be, I'll drink with you--but be your intimate? Never! Why?
Because be's a damned Yankee! These are the inextinguishable feelings
of a gentleman. I am aware they are out of place in this age, but
what's bred in the bone will show in the flesh. Who says it won't, is
no gentleman himself and a liar as well! My place in the world was
determined two or three hundred years ago, and my ancestors spat on such
cattle as Mahaffy and they were flattered by the attention!" The judge,
powerfully excited by his denunciation of the unfortunate Mahaffy,
quitted his chair and, lurching somewhat as he did so, began to pace the
floor.

"Take me for your example, boy! You may be poor, you may possibly be
hungry you'll often be thirsty, but through it all you will remain that
splendid thing--a gentleman! Lands, niggers, riches, luxury, I've had
'em all; I've sucked the good of 'em; they've colored my blood, they've
gone into the fiber of my brain and body. Perhaps you'll contend that
the old order is overthrown, that family has gone to the devil? You are
right, and there's