as a light-coloured muslin print--negligently open at the
breast, and garnished with gaudy ribbons, from which freely protruded
the mountainous masses of her bosom. On her head was a _toque_ of
checked "bandana," folded over the black corkscrew ringlets, that scarce
reached so low as her ears; while ungartered stockings upon her ankles,
and slipshod shoes upon her feet, completed the _tout ensemble_ of her
costume. Notwithstanding the _neglige_ visible in her apparel, there
were signs of conceit as to personal appearance. The fashion and
trimmings were not in keeping with that of her tabooed race; and in the
set of the _toque_ there was a certain air of coquetry. The features,
small and regular, might have once passed for handsome; but they were
now nearly eliminated by her obese condition, which produced a
disproportionate rotundity of face. The eyes, moreover, had lost all
loveliness, if ever they had been endowed with such an expression.
Their glance, in its brightest day, could have been only animal. It was
still sufficiently sensual; but sensuality of a sullen and leering
character. The voice of this woman had already produced an unpleasant
effect upon me; so, too, the words spoken. The sight of her, as she
stood "akimbo," her hands resting upon her enormous haunches, only
strengthened the sinister impression, which was still further confirmed
by my observing that it had caused a similar effect elsewhere--upon
Lilian! Even over that radiant countenance I could see that a cloud had
stolen, and continued to shadow it!

"Say, gal! wha you doin' dar, anyhow? You fill dat pail double-quick,
or, golly, you catch it!" A threat! Lilian listens to it, and obeys!

"I am coming, Aunt Lucy!" replied the girl, in a trembling voice, at the
same time hastening to fill the water-can.

I was in hopes that this conciliatory answer would send the mulatta back
into the corral. To my chagrin, it produced a result directly the
reverse; for, on hearing it, the woman came waddling down in rapid
strides towards the river. She made direct for the spot where Lilian
was filling the can; and by her quick, nervous gestures, and the lurid
light flashing in her half-buried eyes, I could perceive that some
hideous passion was stirring within her. Lilian had already perceived
that she was approaching, and stood waiting for her--evidently in awe!
When within a few paces of the girl, the fat fury opened speech upon
her--and in a tone