several portraits in gilded frames. The sun of the
afternoon filled the richly furnished parlor with its mellow light.
The front door opened to a wide hall and stairway, with carved
baluster and polished mahogany rail. A clock stood upon the landing
soberly counting the hours. Having inherited wealth, with a yearly
stipend and many perquisites of office, Mr. Newville was abundantly
able to live in a style befitting an officer of the crown. The knocker
on the front door was so bright that Pompey could see his own white
teeth and rolling eyeballs reflected from the shining brass. When
through with the knocker he rubbed the fender, andirons, shovels,
tongs, nozzle of the bellows, the hooks by the jams, candlesticks,
snuffer, extinguisher, trays, and tinder-box, and wiped the dust from
the glazed tiles of the hearth. It was the routine of every morning.
Equally bright were the brass pots and pans in Phillis's realm. Pompey
and Phillis were bondservants under the mild existing paternal form of
slavery.

[Footnote 25: The melocotoon was a variety of peach. The fruit was
very large, beautifully colored, and of rich flavor.]

The king's commissioner of imposts perhaps would not have admitted he
was passing the prime of life, but the crow's-feet were gathering in
the corners of his eyes. His gray tie wig was in keeping with the
white hairs upon his brow. He had a mild, blue eye, amiable
countenance, and dignified deportment, as became an officer of the
crown.

Time was in like manner beginning to turn its furrows upon the brow of
the lady who sat opposite him at the table, but she was still very
fair, as many a visitor had noticed while partaking of her
hospitality.

When breakfast was finished Mr. Newville took his gold-headed cane
from its place in the hall, adjusted his wig at the mirror under the
sconce, put on his gold-laced hat and walked leisurely, as became his
majesty's commissioner of imposts, along Tremont Street to Queen,
thence past the jail, the Town House, the pillory and the stocks, to
his office in the Custom House.

Mrs. Newville modeled her housekeeping on the last chapter of the Book
of Proverbs. She began each morning with instructions to Phillis and
Pompey. After breakfast, she walked to the market followed by Pompey
at a respectful distance, with a basket to bring home the marketing.
She was fastidious in her selection of meats; it must be a loin of
beef, very tender, a chicken or duck, plump and fa