spare. Even
the races are dull things. I've just been in to have a look at that new
mare Tom Bickels is putting on the track, and bless my soul, she can't hold
a candle to the Brown Bess I ran twenty years ago--you don't remember Brown
Bess, eh, Governor?"

"Why, to be sure," said the Governor. "I can see her as if it were
yesterday,--and a beauty she was, too,--but come in to supper with us, my
dear Major; we were just sitting down. No, I shan't take an excuse--come
in, sir, come in."

"No, no, thank you," returned the Major. "Molly's waiting, and Molly
doesn't like to wait, you know. I got dinner at Merry Oaks tavern by the
way, and a mighty bad one, too, but the worst thing about it was that they
actually had the impudence to put me at the table with an abolitionist.
Why, I'd as soon eat with a darkey, sir, and so I told him, so I told him!"

The Governor laughed, his fine, brown eyes twinkling in the gloom. "You
were always a man of your word," he said; "so I must tell Julia to mend her
views before she asks you to dine. She has just had me draw up my will and
free the servants. There's no withstanding Julia, you know, Major."

"You have an angel," declared the other, "and she gets lovelier every day;
my regards to her,--and to her aunts, sir. Ah, good night, good night," and
with a last cordial gesture he started rapidly upon his homeward way.

Betty caught the Governor's hand and went with him into the house. As they
entered the hall, Uncle Shadrach, the head butler, looked out to reprimand
her. "Ef'n anybody 'cep'n Marse Peyton had cotch you, you'd er des been
lammed," he grumbled. "An' papa was real mad!" called Virginia from the
table.

"That's jest a story!" cried Betty. Still clinging to her father's hand,
she entered the dining room; "that's jest a story, papa," she repeated.

"No, I'm not angry," laughed the Governor. "There, my dear, for heaven's
sake don't strangle me. Your mother's the one for you to hang on. Can't you
see what a rage she's in?"

"My dear Mr. Ambler," remonstrated his wife, looking over the high old
silver service. She was very frail and gentle, and her voice was hardly
more than a clear whisper. "No, no, Betty, you must go up and wash your
face first," she added decisively.

The Governor sat down and unfolded his napkin, beaming hospitality upon his
food and his family. He surveyed his wife, her two maiden aunts and his own
elder brother with the ineffable good humour he besto