ve places, awaiting the entrance of their master's family
and guests. At length there was a bustle in the hall, and a loud, burly
voice heard exclaiming,

"Here, Thisbe, you black wench, run and tell your mistress to come into
the drawing-room in all haste. Here's an arrival; her niece, Miss
Orville, just in on the Eclipse. I was down on the levee, to see to the
consignment of my freight, and run afoul of her. Run, you nigger, and
tell her to come here quick."

"Yes, massa," and off patted the woman to impart the summons, while
Alice stood indeterminate on her uncle's threshold.

The servant plodded up a long pair of stairs, and tapped thrice at the
door of an apartment, e'er she was bid in a peevish voice to "come along
in, and not stand there foolin'." The woman entered timidly.

"What do you want with me?" snarled the fine lady from the depths of a
cushioned chair, her white fingers playing with a richly-wrought Spanish
fan.

"Massa says come down in the drawin'-room to see a nice young lady, Miss
Orful, or some sich name, what's just come on the 'Clipse, that signed
away all massa's freight," said the woman with a profound courtesy.

"What gibberish is this?" said the lady, in fretful humor; "go and tell
your master to come here this moment. I declare, my nerves are all
a-tremble, and my life is worried out of me by these stupid niggers. Get
out of my sight, and do my bidding!"

The servant disappeared instanter through the door.

"Where is your mistress?" bawled Esq. Camford, when she reaeppeared in
the hall.

"She says you must come to her this minute, for she is e'en-amost
nervousy to death," answered poor Thisbe, in a shaking voice.

"Come to her? Thunder and Mars! didn't you tell her her niece was here
waiting a welcome?"

"Yes, massa. I tell her there was a nice young lady here, what come on
de 'Clipse."

"O, Lord! these fidgety women!" exclaimed Esq. Camford, impatiently. "I
hope you are not one of the sort, are you, Miss Orville? But come into
the parlor here, while I go up and rouse your aunt."

"I hope, if she is sick, you will not disturb her on my account," said
Alice, somewhat alarmed at the commotion her arrival had occasioned.

"Thunder! she is not sick, I'll wager; that is, no sicker than she deems
it necessary to be to produce an effect. I'm anxious you should behold
your cousins,--four in all; three youngest at school. They'll be home at
dinner, and it is already past the usual hou