my
facilities with sich a trifle! It's jess simply because they both git so
hawngry they cross-eyed! Thass why they alike!"

"No, seh! no, seh! miss it ag'in! O fie, fo' shaame! a man o' sich
mind-powehs like you! Didn't you neveh know de blacksmiff fill de air
full o' bellows whilce de loss calf--aw shucks! you done made me fo'git
it! Now, jess hesh up, you smaht yalleh niggeh! try in' to meek out like
you done guess it! Dis is it; de blacksmiff he fill de caalf full o'
bellows, whilce----"

They both broke into happy laughter and he toyed innocently with one of
her pinchbeck ear-rings.

"O! my sweet familiarity! you knows I knows it! But yo' sof' eyes is
shot me th'oo to that estent that I don't know what I does know! I jess
sets here in the emba'ssment o' my complacency a won'de'n' what you
takes me faw!"

"How does you know I's tuck you at all yit; is I said so, Mr.
Saampson?--Don't you tetch me, seh! right here in full sight o' de
house! You's too late, seh! too late! Come roun' here, C'nelius Leggett,
an' he'p me out'n dis-yeh buggy, else I dis'p'int you yit wid my
aansweh.--No, seh! you please to take jess de tips o' my fingehs. Now,
gimme my bundle o' duds!" the voice rose and fell in coquettish
undulations--"now git back into de buggy--yass, seh; dass right. Thaank
yo ve'y much, seh. Good-by. Come ag'in."

"Miss Daphne, y' ain't ans' my interrogutive yit."

"Yass, I is. Dass my answeh--come ag'in."

"Is dat all de respondence my Delijah got faw her Saampson?"

"Mr. Leggett, I ain't yo' Delijah! Thass fix! I ain't read the scripters
in relations to dat young lady faw nuthin! Whetheh you my Saampson
remain"--the smile and tone grew bewitching--"faw me to know an faw you
to fine out."

"Shell I come soon?" murmured Mr. Leggett, for the old field hand and
his wife were in sight; and the girl answered in full voice, but
winsomely:

"As to dat, seh, I leaves you to de freedom o' yo' own compulsions."

He moved slowly away, half teased, half elated. At the last moment he
cast a final look backward, and Daphne Jane, lagging behind the old
couple, tossed him a kiss.

* * * * *

Quite satisfied to be idle, but not to be alone, the maiden so early
contrived with her Leggettstown vivacity to offend the old field hands,
that the night found her with only herself and her cogitations for
company.

However, the house was still new to her, if not in its pantry, at least
in its