in' at
'em--she ain't so high and mighty dat de ground ain't good 'nuff for her
ter walk on! Not but what missus a mighty fine woman--she steps off like
a queen, and I tell yer when she's dressed der ain't many kin hold a
candle ter her, and as fur takin' de shine off, wal, I'd jis' like ter
see anybody do dat."

"It's all true," said Dolf, "as true as preachin'!"

"Mr. Dolf," said Clo, gravely, "don't take dem seriousnesses so
lightsome on yer lips."

"I won't," said Dolf, humbly, "I begs ter 'polegise--yer see in gazing
'bout de world a gemman 'quires some parts ob speech as seems keerless,
but dey don't come from de heart."

"I'se glad dey don't," observed Clorinda, "bery glad, Mr. Dolf."

"But what do yer tink missus has done?" demanded Victoria.

Such a straightforward question was rather a puzzler to Clorinda, so she
answered with a stately air:

"Der's questions I couldn't answer eben ter my most intemancies--don't
press it, Victy."

Victoria's big eyes began to roll wildly in their sockets; she was
astonished to find that Clo had for some time seen that things were
going wrong, when the fact had escaped her own observation, and, for the
first time in the course of their acquaintance, she felt a sort of
respect for her usual foe but temporary ally.

"Does yer tink dey's quarr'ling?" she asked.

"When I hears thunder," said Clo, sententiously, "I allers takes it
there's a storm brewin'."

Vic looked more puzzled than ever, and Dolf was not much better off,
though he tried to appear full to the brim with wisdom and sagacity.

"Yer 'members the night missus lost her bracelet, Mr. Dolf?" asked Clo.

"I does bery well."

"When missus bemeaned herself to shout out at me as if I'd been a
sarpint," cried Clo, viciously. "Wal, if ever I see thunder I seed it in
marster's face dat ar night!"

"Oh!" exclaimed Victoria, bundling up her work, "if you and Mr. Dolf has
got secrets to talk ober, I'd better go 'way."

"Who's a destryin' the harmony now?" shouted Clo. "It's raal sinful,
Victory, to give way to temper like you does."

"Oh, dat's all fine 'nuff. But I don't wish to stand in nobody's way.
I'd better take my work upstairs."

"Set still, set still, Miss Victory," urged Dolf. "Der's no secret. We
shall have de uttermost pleasure in making you 'quainted wid de pint in
question."

Clorinda did not look altogether pleased with his eagerness to explain;
she rather liked Victoria to suppose there was