off.

"G'way fum me, 'Viticus Wisdom--gallivantin' round here like we was
young niggehs!--Lawd! my time is come I cayn't git up; my bones dun tuk
dis-yeh shape to staay!"

"Come, come!" said the husband, in an undertone of amiable chiding; and
the buggy gave a jerk of thankful relief as its principal burden left it
for the sidewalk, diffusing the sweet smell of the ironing-table.

While the younger woman was making her mincing descent, Fanny and
Barbara came toward them in the walk.

"Miss Halliday," said Leviticus, lifting his beaver and bowing across
the gate, "in response to yo' invite we--O bless the Lawd my soul! is
that my little--Miss Barb, is that you?"

Before he could say more Virginia threw both hands high. "Faw de Lawd's
sake!" She thrust her husband aside. "G'way, niggah! lemme th'oo dis-yeh
gate 'fo' I go ove' it!" She snatched Barbara to her bosom. "Lawd,
honey! Lawd, honey! Ef anybody 'spec' you' ole Aunt Fudjinny to stan'
off an' axe her baby howdy dey bettah go to de crazy house! Lawd! Lawd!
dis de fus' chance I had to hug my own baby since I been a po' ole free
niggah!" She held the laughing girl off by the shoulders.

"Honey, ef it's my las' ac', I"--she snatched her close again, kissed
one cheek twice and the other thrice, and held her off once more to fix
upon her a tearful, ravishing gaze. "Lawd, honey, Johanna done tole me
how you growin' to favo' my sweet Miss Rose, an' I see it at de fun'l
when I can't much mo'n speak to you, an' cry so I cayn't hardly see you;
but Lawd! my sweet baby, dough you cayn't neveh supersede her in good
looks, you jess as quiet an' beautiful as de sweet-potateh floweh!

"Howdy, Miss Fannie?" She gave her hand and courtesied.

"Howdy, Uncle Leviticus?" said Barbara.

The old man lifted his hat again, bowed very low, and looked very happy.
"I'm tol'able well, Miss Barb, thank the Lawd, an' hope an' trus' an'
pray you're of the same complexion." Still including Barbara in his
audience, he went on with an address to Fannie already begun.

"You know, Miss Fannie, yo' letteh say fo' Aunt Fudjinny an' me to come
the twentieth--yass, ma'am, we understan'--but, you know, Mr. Mahch, he
come down an' superscribe faw this young--ah----"

"Girl," suggested Barbara, with pretty condescension; but Fannie
covertly trod on her toe and said, "lady," with a twinkle at the dowdy
maiden.

"P'ecisely!" responded Leviticus to both speakers at once. "An' Mr.
Mahch, he was bere