ssa Kirke?' cried Dinah, her face beaming
all over with pleasurable emotion.

'No, Dinah; and I've come here so early to tell you how much I think of
_you_. A woman that can handle four white men as you did is fit to head
an army.'

'Lor' bress 'ou, massa! dat wusn't nuffin'. I could handle a whole
meetin'-house full ob sech as dem.'

'Joe, you know your master's plans, I suppose?'

'Yas, massa Kirke; he mean ter buy all de folks.'

'But can he raise money enough for the whole?'

'I reckon so. Massa Joe got a heap.'

'But don't you want to borrow some to help out your pile?'

'I'se 'bliged ter you, sar; but I reckon I doan't. I'se got nigh on ter
free thousan', an' nary one'll pay more'n dat fur a ole man an' two ole
wimmin.'

'I hope not.'

I remained there for a half hour, and then strolled back to the mansion.
On the lawn, at the side of the house, was the auction block--the
carpenter's bench which had officiated at Ally's wedding. It was
approached by a flight of steps, and at one end was the salesman's
stand--a high stool, in front of which was a small portable desk
supported on stakes driven into the ground. Near the block was a booth
fitted up for the special accommodation of thirsty buyers. The
proprietor was just opening his own and his establishment's windows, and
I looked in upon him. His red, bloated visage seemed familiar to me.
Perceiving me, he said:

'How is ye, stranger? Hev a eye-opener?'

'I reckon not, old fellow; but I ought to know you. Your name is Tom.'

'Thomas, stranger; but Tom, fur short.'

'Well, Thomas, I thought you had taken your last drink. I saw your store
was closed, as I came along.'

'Yas; th' durned 'ristocrats driv me out uv thet nigh a yar ago.'

'And where are you now?'

'Up ter Trenton. I'm doin' right smart thar. Me an' Mulock--thet used
ter b'long yere--is in partenship. But war moight ye hev seed me,
stranger?'

'At your store, over ten years since. I bought a woman there. You were
having a turkey match at the time.'

'Oh, yas! I 'call ye now. An' th' pore gal's dead! Thet d--d Yankee
'ooman shud pull hemp fur thet.'

'Yes; but the devil seldom gets his due in this world.'

'Thet ar's a fact, stranger. Come, hev a drink; I woan't ax ye a red.'

'No, excuse me, Tom; it's before breakfast;' and, walking off, I entered
the mansion.

* * * * *

Shortly after breakfast the people from the neighboring plantations
began