would orritate
master more."

Vic attempted no deceptions on her conscience; she liked jelly cake, and
did not trouble herself about the manner in which it was obtained; since
her earliest remembrance stolen delicacies had never given her a
moment's indigestion, or the least approach to moral nightmare.

They went over to visit Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Dinah, and the evening was
made a festive one, with Clo's pies, the hard cider which Mrs. Hopkins
provided, and other delicacies which composed a sumptuous entertainment.

But as ill-luck would have it, two or three other friends strayed in,
and among them was a young woman as much given to coquetry as Dolf
himself; and before a great while Dolf's love of flirtation got the
better of his prudence, and plentiful doses of the hard cider rendered
him reckless. In spite of the indignation which both Clo and Victoria
displayed, he was exerting all his fascinations on the newcomer, while
her neglected beau sat looking like a modern Othello, with every glance
expressive of bowie-knives at least.

When the damsel went out with Miss Dinah, for an extra bench from the
wash-house, Dolf accompanied them, and directly the company were
startled by a direful commingling of laughter and doleful shrieks.

Clo flew to the door and opened it; Victoria peeped over her shoulder;
there was that perfidious Dolf encircling the stranger damsel with his
right arm, and making bold efforts to lay hold of the wash-bench with
his left.

Dolf looked up and saw Clo; he was not so much under the excitement of
the cider that he could not understand the risk he ran.

"Dare is pretty conducts!" exclaimed Clo.

"I shud tink so," chimed in Victoria. "If you please, Miss Clorinda, I
tink I will locomote home; I ain't accustomed to sich goings on myself;
dey isn't de fashion in de Piney Cove basement."

Clorinda got her bonnet and tied it on her head with an indignant jerk.

The outraged damsels would hear no persuasions, and Dolf was forced to
accompany them back, and a very uncomfortable time he had of it.

First they abused the impudent young pusson they had left behind, and
nearly annihilated Dolf when he attempted a word in the young woman's
favor.

"I 'clar," cried Clo at last; "Mr. Dolf, yer go 'long as crooked as a
rail fence; what am de matter, are yer jest done gone and no 'count
nigger any how?"

Dolf only gave a racy chuckle.

"I guess goin' into the wash-room turned his head," said V