e little comfort mingling with his
disappointment.

"That I never will, sir; but will suffer my tongue to be tored out by
the roots first. If I have strength to withstand _you_, sir, don't you
think as I shall have strength to withstand others?"

"I think it quite likely. Well, Miss Tabby, _I_ know you understand me,
whether you will divulge anything to me or not, and so I shall soon give
you certain instructions as freely as if there were an outspoken
confidence between us," said Mr. Berners, rising to leave the room.

"That you may do, sir, with full faith in me," answered Miss Tabby.

And then Mr. Berners left her, and returned to his guests.

Mr. Berners and his guests passed that Christmas evening, not in playing
Christmas games, but in transacting important business.

The three gentlemen excused themselves to the two ladies, and leaving
them to practice a new duet together on the piano, withdrew to the
library, where documents were drawn up giving lawyer Sheridan full
powers to manage the estate in the absence of its proprietors.

When these were duly signed, sealed, and delivered, and all the details
of the agency and of the voyage had been thoroughly discussed, they
returned to the drawing-room.

It was now late, and the guests arose to take leave, but at Mr. Berners'
earnest invitation, they consented to remain, not only for the night,
but for the two days that their host would be at home.

The next morning, after an early breakfast, Mr. Berners mounted his
horse and rode over to the plantation where his child had been placed to
nurse. He was determined, as a matter of prudence, not to divulge to the
nurse the parentage of the child. He knew that to do so would start a
furor of gossip and speculation that would be both unpleasant and
inconvenient.

On reaching the plantation, he rode up to the gate of the substantial
stone cottage belonging to the overseer, alighted, tied his horse to a
post, and went up to the house door and knocked.

A rosy-cheeked girl of about twelve years of age opened the door.

"Is Mrs. Fugitt in?" he inquired.

"Yes, sir," replied the girl, stretching wide the door to admit the
visitor.

Mr. Berners stepped into a very clean and comfortable room, where a
woman sat with one young babe at her breast and another in the cradle
beside her.

She took her foot from the rocker of the cradle and arose with the babe
still in her arms to meet the stranger.

"Mrs. Fugitt?" inqui