e. My experience therefore, sir, has been such as to
warrant my assertion; and I utter it, I assure you, sir, without
egotism, but merely as the result of a practical mercantile life; that I
am sufficiently conversant with business, to undertake the management of
any establishment; even, I may add, sir, without disparagement to you,
one of greater magnitude than Strawberry Hill; and also--

"For goodness sake, stop that trash; what on earth has all that got to
do with your permitting the black to enter the store, which is supposed
to be under your charge, and for the contents of which you are
responsible?"

"I was about to explain that point, sir, when you interrupted me; but my
first consideration was to establish my good fame, from the imputation
cast upon it by you; which imputation, I am fain to believe, was uttered
in a moment of hastiness; and which, after I have explained the
circumstances of the case, you will be happy to retract. However, sir,
permit me to continue. The black, I have every reason to believe, is in
the service of Mr. Ferguson at Fern Vale; for he came over this morning,
while you were absent at the bridge, with a message for that gentleman
from his overseer; and knowing him to be on an excursion with the
ladies, and thinking he would be back about mid-day, I advised him, sir,
to delay his return to the station, until he had seen his master. Hence,
you see, sir, his presence on the station was perfectly justifiable.
With regard to his peccancy I will not attempt, sir, to offer any
palliation beyond the expression of my belief, that the tobacco was
taken without any notion of the offence he was committing; in proof of
which, I may mention, sir, the absence of any concealment on his part,
when you came to the store. It was natural, sir, he should follow me
about the place, from my having advised him to stay until the arrival of
his master; and I, having occasion to go to the store, he accompanied me
there; and being suddenly called away, sir, I inadvertently perhaps,
left the door open and him inside. Then, it appears, he appropriated the
tobacco you found in his hand, and had I returned before you came up, I
should have as readily perceived, and as soon induced him to deliver it.
If I might venture, sir, to express an opinion, I would say, at most,
the offence is a paltry one, and could well be left unnoticed; more
especially as he is, as I have premised, a servant of Mr. Ferguson."

"Do you thi