e, Miss Lucy? Now I hope
you are satisfied. How are you, Harrington? Did not expect to see us in
this part of the world, I dare say? Is the General and Mrs. Harrington
on board? Of course I might have known as much from a sight of this
young lady. The General's ward, I suppose.' Here Mr. Eaton took off his
Panama hat and made an elaborate bow, which I returned, striving to meet
his cordiality, with some show of interest.

"'Well, this is comfortable,' he said, fanning himself with the broad
rim of his hat, 'of all countries in the world Spain is the one where an
American likes to meet an American best. I don't understand one word of
their lingo, and our courier isn't much better off--hates the Spaniards
so that he never would learn their language, in hopes that it might keep
any one from bringing him here. But he is a good fellow, can be trusted
with untold gold. Language or no language, I wasn't going to do without
him. But it is awkward work trying to make these Spaniards understand.
Ask what you will and they answer all alike, Kiem Sabe, as if that was
the answer to an honest question. Oh my boy, I'd give twice the money we
got for her, that I hadn't sold you that girl Zillah. When we took her
to Cuba she pitched in and learned the language right smart; wonderful
girl that; have you got her yet, Harrington?'

"'She came with us to Spain,' said Harrington, looking a good deal
disturbed, 'but you forget she was General Harrington's purchase. I
believe my mother took a fancy to her.'

"'Your mother! Why bless your soul, she never saw the girl till General
Harrington took her home. He said that _you_ had urged him to buy her;
come, come, don't blush up like that, what the deuce do I care who
fancied the girl, she was a great bargain to any one.'

"'Are you speaking of Zillah?' said Miss Eaton, languidly. 'What a
pretty creature she was. It seemed a shame to keep her with the other
negroes. I remember often and often visitors mistook her for me.'

"'But that was before they had seen you, Lucy. The girl is well enough,
but no one could mistake her for you. Such coal black hair, eyes like
velvet. Yes, yes, the girl was a beauty,--one good reason why I was
willing to sell her.'

"James Harrington was so annoyed by the conversation, that he walked
away frowning. I had never seen his noble face darken so unpleasantly
before.

"Miss Eaton laughed, and followed him with a pair of sparkling eyes,
that had a world of misch