as vindictive as the sound of her voice was harsh and
grating.

"Wha for, gal, you call me _Aunt_ Lucy? Wha for you say dat? Dam! you
call me so 'gain, I jab you eyes out. Sure I live, I gouge you!"

The monster, as she spoke, stretched out her hand, bending the thumb
with a significant gesture.

She continued in the same spiteful tone:--"I tear you' har you so
conceit' 'bout--you' golding har, folks call. Piff! you' har da colour
ob yella squash. I pull um out o' you' head in fistful, you call me
_Aunt_ Lucy 'gain."

"I did not know it would offend you," replied the young girl, in a meek
voice. "Do not the others call you by that name?" she inquired
hesitatingly. "Mr Stebbins does so?"

"Nebba you mind what Mass' Stabbins he do; da's my affair. You hab a
care _you_ no call me so. Da's my affair, too. Jes you say _Aunt_ Lucy
'gain, I soon spoil you' beauty, buckra gal."

"I shall not do so again, Lucy," timidly rejoined the young girl.

"_Miss_ Lucy, you please. Don't you tink you still in Tennessee! You'
know better bye 'n bye. Yella woman out heer good as white--marry white
man all same--all same 'mong da Mormons--yah, yah, yah!"

A leer towards Lilian accompanied this laughter, rendering its hideous
significance more palpably expressive. So provoked was I by the brutal
behaviour of the yellow wench, I could scarcely restrain myself from
rushing up, and kicking her over the bank upon which she was standing.
Nothing but the stern necessity of preserving my incognito hindered me
from treating her as she deserved; and, even then, it cost me an effort
to keep my place. As I continued to watch them. I could see that the
young girl cowered beneath the threats of this bold bawdril, who had in
some way gained an ascendancy over her--perhaps appointed by Stebbins to
act in the double capacity of spy and guardian? Notwithstanding the
horrid imaginings to which the woman's presence had given rise, I
succeeded in smothering my wrath, and remaining silent. My good star
was guiding me; and soon after I was rewarded for the act of prudence.

"Say, gal!" continued the mulatta, still addressing herself to Lilian,
"wha for you sittin' down dar, gazin' into da water? S'pose you tink
you see him shadda dar? Yah, yah, yah!"

"Whose shadow?" innocently inquired the girl. I trembled while
listening for the reply. "O Lordy! you berry innocent gal, make 'pear!
S'pose I no see you write him name in dat ere boo