y, you're thin as a snake,--wait a minute and
I'll bring you something to eat."

Jupiter, who had lived exclusively on mice for a fortnight, was evidently
subdued by the prospects of an early breakfast. The apology Phillis had
made him seemed not to be without its effect, for when she came back, with
a small tin pan of bread and milk, and a piece of bacon hanging to a fork,
his back was not the least elevated, and he proceeded immediately to the
hearth where the provender was deposited, and to use an inelegant
Westernism, "walked into it;" Phillis meanwhile going home, perfectly
satisfied with the result of her exploration. Bacchus's toilet was
completed, he was just raising up from the exertion of putting on his
slippers, when Phillis came in, laughing.

This was an unusual phenomenon, so early in the morning, and Bacchus was
slightly uneasy at its portent, but he ventured to ask her what was the
matter.

"Nothing," said Phillis, "only I've seen the ghost."

"Lord! what?"

"The ghost!" said Phillis, "and its got red eyes, too, sure enough."

"Phillis," said Bacchus, appealingly, "you aint much used to jokin, and I
know you wouldn't tell an ontruth; what do you mean?"

"I mean," said Phillis, "that the very ghost you saw, and heard
screeching, with the red eyes glarin at you through the window, I've seen
this morning."

"Phillis," said Bacchus, sinking back in his chair, "'taint possible! What
was it a doin?"

"I can tell you what its doing now," said Phillis, "its eating bread and
milk and a piece of bacon, as hard as it can. Its eyes is red, to be sure,
but I reckon yours would be red or shut, one, if you'd a been nigh a
fortnight locked up in an empty house, with now and then a mouse to eat.
Why, Bacchus, how come it, you forgot old Jupiter? I was too busy to think
about cats, but I wonder nobody else didn't think of the poor animal."

"Sure enough," said Bacchus, slowly recovering from his astonishment, "its
old Jupiter--why I'd a sworn on the Bible 'twas Aunt Peggy's sperrit. Well,
I do b'lieve! that old cat's lived all this time; well, he aint no cat any
how--I always said he was a witch, and now I knows it, that same old
Jupiter. But, Phillis, gal, I wouldn't say nothin at all about it--we'll
have all dese low niggers laughin at us."

"What they going to laugh at me about?" said Phillis. "I didn't see no
ghost."

"Well, its all de same," said Bacchus, "they'll laugh at me--and man and
wife's one--'