THE morning of the wedding-day Robin came to the house to see his master. The Doctor saw in his countenance some indication of uneasiness of mind, and said,

  "What's the matter now, Robin?"

  "Masser, you know dey gwine have a weddin' here, tonight, and I's bin told, sir, Major Scott George has 'gaged a fiddler, and dat dey gwine hav' dancin', and I coms to see if you 'lows sich thing 'pon dis plantation, sir."

  "Why, Robin, weddings don't occur often, you know, and if they choose to have a little dance, and conduct it well, I don't think it worth while to object to it."

  "Well, masser, if you willin', nobody else has any right to objec', sir. I thought it was my business to let you know, sir, dey are to be married in my cabin, sir, but I would hate mighty for dem to dance dar, sir. My ole missis had dat big room in my cabin, sir, 'secrated to de worship of God, an' I don' want it 'filed, sir, by de foot of de dancess."

  "Robin, you are perfectly right, there; you must tell them from me, that they are not to dance in your cabin. After the ceremony is over, they must go to Dinah's room and dance, if they are determined to have dancing."

  "Dinah say, sir, de supper is to be set in her room, and dey can' dance dar."

  "There will be a moon, to-night, and it will be very mild: they might have the supper-table set out in the yard. They may make what arrangements they please, but to dance in your cabin, that they must not do. I am going from home, Robin, and shall probably not be back until very late. You must sit up until this wedding-party has cleared out, and see that nothing goes amiss, Robin, in my absence."

  "I'll do so, masser, certainly, but I's sorry you gwine from home, masser, when der will be sich a crowd of strange niggers here, sir. I can't be wid um nother, as I doesn' go whar dar's dancin' an' fiddlin'."

  "Well, I don't mean that you shall join them, Robin; but if they know that you are up, they will be more apt to keep order."

  "I sha'n't lay my head 'pon my piller, 'til you come back, masser."

  The invitations were for seven o'clock. The Doctor and Mrs. Boswell left home at six. When they arrived, they found a large company assembled and waiting for them to witness the ceremony. Every countenance beamed with joy, except those of the entertainers. Upon that of Major Scott there was a deep, settled gloom; Mrs. Scott was sitting alone in a corner of the room, a perfect picture of Niobe. The brides and grooms, maids and groomsmen, took their stand about the middle of the room, and Mr. Grattan, in a solemn and impressive manner, went through the Episcopal form. After the greetings and introductions were over, Dr. Boswell found himself seated by a young

  "I have seen, to-night, Doctor," said Mr. Hicks,"what I have never witnessed before."

  "Ah! what's that, sir?" said the Doctor.

  "The marriage, sir, of two couples at the same time."

  "It very rarely happens, Mr. Hicks. I don't recollect ever to have seen it myself."

  "I guess, Doctor, I shall see many strange things before I get back home."

  "Very probably you will, sir. In a journey of several hundred miles we must expect to meet with sights not familiar. I hope, sir, what you have seen of Virginia, has at least come up to your expectations."

  "Why, sir, I have seen but little of Virginia as yet. The travelling is now so rapid, that a person can form no opinion, even of the fertility of the country through which he passes. I am very much pleased with the appearance of this valley as far as I have seen it."

  "The country immediately about here, sir, is not a fair sample of the valley as an agricultural country. Between this and the Potomac river we have as fine a country as is to be met with anywhere. There are some portions of the western country, I suppose, much more fertile than any part of our valley; but, taking other things into consideration, there is not, anywhere, a more desirable country to live in than this valley of ours."

  "There is one thing, Doctor, which is a great drawback to your country, and would be to any country—I mean slavery."

  "I knew very well what you meant, Mr. Hicks; for

  "I thought the Southern people were always ready and willing (if not able) to uphold their opinions in relation to their peculiar institution, by argument."

  "They are undoubtedly able, Mr. Hicks, to uphold and sustain their opinions by undeniable positions, but they consider it perfectly useless to attack prejudices which are held to with a pertinacity which no argument, be it ever so cogent, can upset."

  "I think I can prove to any reasonable being, Doctor, that your slavery institution is contrary to Scripture, and contrary to humanity."

  "Indeed, Mr. Hicks, I have no desire to enter into an argument, for after it was finished, we should both think precisely as we do now. Suppose we join the ladies, and have some chat with them more appropriate to the occasion?"

  "Before we move, Doctor, tell me what interesting-looking young lady that is, in such close conversation with the Parson."

  "That, sir, is Miss Evelina Preble, the sister of the young gentleman who was married to-night. I had supposed you had been introduced to all the ladies."

  "Not to her, sir. I should be very much pleased with an introduction."

  "If you will follow me, I will introduce you, with pleasure."

  "An old adage, Miss Preble," said he, after introduc-

  "I don't know that there is any truth in that adage, Mr. Hicks; but if there is, I suppose the circumstances (whatever they are) which produce that result from one wedding, are not increased by two happening together."

  "I suppose, sir (addressing himself to Mr. Grattan), if many or few should follow this double one, that the minister always holds himself in readiness to act his part?"

  "Yes, sir," said Mr. Grattan, "the minister considers himself in the line of duty when performing the marriage ceremony, and it is a duty which falls in with his inclination, to assist in contributing to the happiness of others."

  "I am glad to find that the young ladies of Virginia have no particular objection to going North. The success of my friend Benson is certainly encouraging to Northern enterprise in those matters. Who knows, Mr. Grattan, but that some time or other I may have use for your services? I suppose I could command them at any time, sir?"

  "Why—why—yes, to be sure, sir, if—if any other lady of Virginia wishes to get—to go to Boston, sir, and calls for my services, why, they will be rendered, sir."

  Mr. Grattan spoke this with a flutter of feeling which can be ascribed to no other cause than a sudden recollection of old Mr. Preble's opposition. He had, moreover, heard, that this Mr. Hicks was the son of a very wealthy merchant in Boston. He had no mistrust, however, of the affection of Evelina, but the thought of the old man's objection, added to his great fondness for wealth, caused a momentary rush of feeling of uneasiness, tinctured with a spice of jealousy. Fortunately he was relieved from the

  Mr. George Preble came over from another part of the room, and told him that he had been deputed by his wife and Miss Eliza McKnight, to inquire whether a little family dance, for the amusement of the young people, would be disagreeable to him.

  "What do your father and mother-in-law think of it, George?" said Mr. Grattan.

  "We have not mentioned it to them, sir; we thought it would be best to obtain your consent first, and to mention it to them afterwards."

  "I have no consent to give or withhold, George; if the Major and Mrs. Scott are willing, and a dance is gotten up, I cannot consent to remain here and witness it, but will have my horse brought out, and go home."

  "Ah! well, that settles the matter, Mr. Grattan; we can never agree that you should be driven off, to give us an opportunity for dancing."

  "Girls," said Evelina, as she joined the party who had sent George to Mr. Grattan, "how could you do so cruel a thing, as to force Mr. Grattan either to go away, or to object to your dancing? Julia, you must have known that your mother would not consent to have dancing in her house; a member of the church to have dancing!"

  "I am sure," said Miss Eliza McKnight, "I would not care if Mr. Grattan was to go away. I think it very unkind in him, to prevent our having a little innocent amusement. I never did like, at a party, to sit prim, with my hands before me, and hear nothing but nonsensical talk."

  "I guess you won't have any dancing here, to-night, miss," said Mr. Hicks, who had followed Evelina;"I think very hard of the parson myself, for preventing it; but I can't think, Miss McKnight, that you will be subjected to nonsensical talking, here, where there are assembled so many of the elite of Virginia."

  "People who have nothing to do but talk, sir, must say a good many foolish things, and then they are apt to make ill-natured remarks about each other's appearance and dress, &c. I wonder if it wouldn't be a more innocent amusement to dance, than to be talking slander, and gossipping in every way?"

  "That is not the necessary substitute for dancing, Eliza," said Evelina; "we may carry on amusing, innocent, and edifying conversations. I don't think it follows at all, that because we don't dance we must be talking nonsense and slander."

  "You may say so, Evelina, because I suppose, of course, you are much amused and edified by the conversation of the Rev. Mr. Grattan."

  A crimson blush came over the face of Evelina.

  "In my own name, and that of the other gentlemen present," said Mr. Hicks, "I must return thanks to Miss McKnight for the compliment which she in her last remark has paid us, selecting the Rev. Mr. Grattan as the only gentleman in the room whose conversation would be amusing and edifying."

  "Indeed, Mr. Hicks, I did not mean that; I meant nothing more than that the conversation of Mr. Grattan would be particularly pleasing and edifying to Miss Evelina Preble. How could you suppose that I meant to cast

  "You have at least, miss, cramped the ease of my conversation, as I shall hereafter be under continual apprehension, lest my remarks should neither give pleasure or edification to Miss Eliza McKnight."

  "Oh! sir, you may be as easy as you please, and throw away all apprehension; I'll promise you, sir, to be both amused and edified."

  Evelina had gone over to another part of the room, to pay her respects to Mr. and Mrs. Benson, who were sitting together on a sofa.

  "That's a very sweet, interesting young lady, Miss McKnight," said Mr. Hicks.

  "Do you think her a beauty, sir?"

  "She is decidedly very pretty, and I may say she is a beauty; a more intelligent countenance I never beheld."

  "I never could think Evelina a beauty; there's something about her which prevents her being a beauty in my eyes. Mr. Grattan no doubt thinks her as beautiful as you do; report says there's a mutual attachment, if not engagement, between them."

  "Do you think that report true, miss?"said he, with earnestness.

  "I can't say, Mr. Hicks, that it is positively so; but I should think there was good ground for the report. Whenever I have met them in company, they seem to have no conversation for anybody but each other. Whenever you see a young gentleman and lady, upon all occasions, separate themselves from the rest of the company, and

  "That would generally be the conclusion; but in this instance, he being a parson in the neighbourhood, may think it his duty to give instruction to the young members of his congregation; and after Miss Evelina is sufficiently taught, he may select some other one of you for his sofa lectures."

  "Indeed, sir, they are not talking about religion all that time, you may depend."

  "The parson will be a lucky man, I should think, if he gets that young lady." Miss Eliza McKnight was somewhat disconcerted; and, as the conversation of Mr. Hicks was not very edifying, and by no means very agreeable, she left him. Mr. Hicks sought out Miss Evelina, and found her in conversation with Mrs. Benson. Mr. Benson was on the sofa with them, but not joining in conversation. His thoughts seemed to have gone back to Boston, and he might have been at that moment in his counting-room, surrounded by day-books, ledgers, and invoices. As Mr. Hicks approached, he heard Mrs. Benson tell Evelina that her mammy was going to Boston with her. He looked surprised, for he had never heard the word mammy used in any other sense, than as a real mother, and this was the first intimation he had that Mrs. Scott was going to Boston with her daughter.

  "I am very much delighted, cousin," he said, to hear that we shall have the pleasure of your mother's company in Boston."

  "Why, my dear cousin, I didn't mean mamma; I meant my old Mammy Betty, a black woman who nursed me,

  "I am very much astonished to hear, cousin, that you call an old black woman mammy, and particularly that you are so reluctant to part with her. I thought you Virginians were parting with them every day to traders."

  "We never in that way part with our mammies, Mr. Hicks," said Evelina; "and, indeed, we very seldom ever sell to traders any but those who have been made dissatisfied with their situation, and have been induced by the persuasions of abolitionists to leave their masters and fly to the free states. When those are caught and brought back, they are always sold to traders."

  "And what will you do, cousin, with your Mammy, Betty, when you get her to Boston? You know she will be free then, and they won't let her stay with you a day after you get there. She will be so fond of liberty, she'll leave you directly; and besides I know cousin, here," pointing to Mr. Benson,"won't like to hear his wife call an old black woman mammy."

  "When my mammy gets to Boston, sir, she will be free, I know, and she will do for us what little work we will require of her on wages, and I know that all the people in Boston can't persuade her to leave me, sir. Your cousin and myself have talked over this matter, and it's all settled before this, cousin. If my mammy loves me, and I love my mammy, I don't care about the people of Boston laughing at me. The people of Boston had better mind their own business, and let me and my mammy alone; don't you think so, Mr. Benson?"

  "My dear, I was just thinking about Boston at that moment—yes, certainly—certainly."

  Mr. Hicks took a seat upon the sofa by the side of Miss Evelina, who caught the eye of Mr. Grattan whenever she looked towards the corner, where Mrs. Scott was sitting, he having taken a seat beside the latter.

  "Have you a mammy too, Miss Preble?" asked Mr. Hicks.

  "Yes, sir, in almost every family in Virginia, where there are slaves, there is some motherly old negro woman who has had the care of the children when they were young, who is very much attached to them, and they to her, and they all call her mammy. Those old negro women are generally very respectable, and sometimes religious. They have very good ideas of propriety of conduct, and are attentive to the behaviour of the younger children. There is always some one of the family of children that this old mammy has had more to do with, or more trouble with than with the others, and that one becomes her pet. Mammy Betty's pet is Amelia; my brother George is the pet of my old Mammy Phillis, and if he goes to California (as he talks of doing), nothing can stop her from going with him."

  "I had no idea, Miss Preble, that those feelings of affection which you talked of, existed between slaves and their owners. I have always understood that the relation of master and slave was one of cruelty and oppression on one side, and of hatred, and a constant desire to escape from servitude, on the other."

  "Your Northern prejudices against the South, sir, are all founded in error. A large number of those who are called abolitionists, have been made so by false representa-

  Before Mr. Hicks could make any reply, a young groomsman who had waited with Evelina, came up and claimed his right to conduct her to the supper-table, to which the company had been just then invited.

  The pen of an Anacharsis would be at fault in a description of the delicacies of that board.

  After supper, the company returned to the parlour, and Mr. Grattan sought, and soon found an opportunity of conversing with Evelina.

  "I should judge," said he, that your new acquaintance from Boston was quite an agreeable companion, from the length and earnestness of your conversation with him before supper."

  "Why, to tell you the truth," she replied, "I had at first conceived for him dislike, bordering on disgust; but upon further acquaintance, I found him more tolerable than I had at first expected. The last part of our conversation was upon a subject which the Yankees never fail to introduce; our slavery at the south; which I endeavoured to defend from the aspersions of abolitionists. I should not think, however, that Mr. Hicks was a thoroughgoing abolitionist."

  "I presume you like him the more for that?"

  "Yes, sir, I suppose that helped to remove my prejudices."

  "A few more conversations might develop still further excellencies, perhaps." This last remark was accompanied by a manner and look so different from any Miss Evelina had before seen from Mr. Grattan, that she was confounded and hurt.

  "I don't know, sir, that I shall ever again have a conversation with him, as I suppose, now that the wedding is over, he will be returning to Boston in a few days. I left Aunt Priscilla very unwell, and I shall return home to-night."

  "Not alone, I hope, Miss Evelina? Perhaps you have engaged an escort? If not, would you accept one?"

  "I am under great obligations to you, sir, but I have engaged my father as an escort."

  "I had really forgotten for the moment that your father was here."

  "I had not, sir; and therefore have engaged no other escort."

  "A young lady, Miss Evelina, can have no better escort than her father."

  "And generally speaking, sir, no better adviser."

  Mrs. Boswell advanced towards them, and said, "Where in the world have you kept yourself to-night, Evelina? I don't think we have been in speaking distance before."

  "You have been so surrounded, Mrs. Boswell, that I could never get near you."

  "Perhaps, madam," said Mr. Grattan, "Miss Evelina derives more pleasure from the company of new acquaintances than from old."

  "I think I know Evelina too well, Mr. Grattan, to suppose that she would desert such old acquaintances as you and I, for any new ones she might meet with. I have myself trumped up a new acquaintance to-night, in this Mr. Hicks, from Boston, and I can't say there is much pleasure to be derived from his conversation. Have you been introduced to him, Evelina?"

  "Yes, madam, I had an introduction to him a short time after the ceremony was over."

  "If you had any conversation with him, Evelina, you must have found him very insipid."

  "I did have a conversation with him, Mrs. Boswell, which was somewhat interesting, because it gave me an opportunity of speaking my mind very freely about the abolitionists."

  "I think you said, Miss Evelina," remarked Mr. Grattan,"that he was no abolitionist himself; therefore I suppose your invective was not intended for him?"

  "Certainly not, sir; as I do not look upon him as an abolitionist."

  "Well, Evelina," said Mrs. Boswell, "I think he is a good deal tinctured with abolitionism, as slavery was the subject of our conversation, introduced, too, by himself. The Doctor told me, just now, that he thought so."

  "It is very possible, madam, that Mr. Hicks may have expressed himself differently when in conversation with the Doctor and yourself, from what he said to me. Very true, he did enumerate some of the evils he said he had heard belonged to slavery, but he did not say, that in his opinion those evils did exist. He may, however, be an abolitionist, and I may have been too charitable in my conclusions, drawn from what he said."

  "Your charity is certainly very commendable, Miss Evelina," said Mr. Grattan.

  "What are you talking about, here?" said George, as he approached them. "Lina, papa wishes to see you over yonder (pointing to the opposite side of the room). Mr. Grattan," continued George, "did you ever see a more perfect picture of 'patience on a monument,' than my old chum, Benson? He is the most plodding genius you ever saw—look at him—he is making calculations at this very time, of the probable success or failure of some of his adventures. I'll go and tell him how shameful it is for a newly married man to put on such looks of abstraction." He went to the sofa where Mr. Benson was sitting.

  "Why, Bob," said he, "instead of looking as if you had gained a friend and companion for life, you actually look as if you had lost every friend in the world."

  "George, you know I was always serious and contemplative when we were at College together. Don't you recollect my nickname—'Old Grum'?"

  "Yes, I recollect it very well," said George; "but upon an occasion like this, you should feign pleasure, even if you don't feel it. I think it a compliment you owe your wife, to appear happy at this time, even though you should be sombre for ever after."

  "George, Amelia knows that I love her, and that I am very happy; and if she doesn't know it now, she will know hereafter, that I haven't the same way of expressing happy feelings that other people have."

  "You have a curious way, Bob, to be sure, of expressing happy feelings by the most doleful look that ever a man put on."

  "George, Amelia tells me you are going to California—is it so?"

  "I have been thinking about it for some time, Bob, and have come to the determination at last to go. By the by, Major Scott told me, the other day, that he had picked out a lot of ten negroes, in families, for each of us. I have been very much puzzled what to do with mine, if I go to California. I deplore very much the necessity of selling—if I could carry them with me I would, but as I can't, I shall be forced to sell, whether I would or not. I shall, in the sale of them, lessen the inhumanity, by selling in families, and in the neighbourhood, though it should be at considerable sacrifice. What will you do with yours, Bob? I suppose, however, coming from the North, the land of liberty and humanity, you will set all yours free, of course."

  "I never was a thorough-going abolitionist, George; and if I were, it could not be expected of me, that when I become entitled by marriage, or in any other manner, to what you Southern people have made property, that I should give it all up. Let me see; ten negroes at the lowest calculation would be worth four thousand dollars. Can you suppose that I or anybody else would throw away that amount of property? When I get them, I must do with them just what Southerners do. Sale and barter are incident to every species of property, and if there is any inhumanity in selling slaves, it attaches to you who have made them property, and not to me who receive them as such; and I must, from the same necessity that you plead, dispose of them as such."

  "You will sell them in families, and in the neighbourhood, I hope, as I mean to do?"

  "George, I do not think I am bound to mitigate the rigours of your institution, by sacrificing my property. The institution of slavery is yours and not mine, and I am not responsible for the consequences, be they what they may. I shall be under the necessity of selling them, and that being the case, I must sell them for every cent they will bring; and if members of families are separated (as I said before), it is the inevitable consequence of their being made property."

  "Well, Bob, that is sophistry that I don't understand, but it lets me into a secret as to pretended northern philanthropy—touch the pocket and it's gone."

  "There is no sophistry about it, George; my philanthropy extends to universal emancipation of your slaves; but as long as they remain property, they must be subject to all the incidents of property."

  "Or, in other words," said George, "when it is property in the hands of Southern men, it ought to be let go, and abandoned; but when it becomes property in Northern hands, it should be converted into hard cash. How long do you expect to remain in Virginia, Bob? I ask the question to know whether the day I have fixed on for the public sale of my negroes would suit your convenience. I intend to advertise mine for sale at Mr. Frazer's shop on the 15th of this month."

  "That will be a long time for me to stay from my business, George; but I suppose I must, and sell on the same day."

  "Do you prepare your advertisement, Bob, and I will

  When left alone with Mr. Grattan, by the departure of George and Evelina, Mrs. Boswell said:

  "Mr. Grattan, I think you were very hard with Evelina, and I can't understand why it was."

  "Mrs. Boswell," said he,"I will with shame and deep sorrow acknowledge to you that I have suffered a momentary fit of jealousy to come over me to-night. The antipathy which Mr. Preble evinces towards me, did cause me to apprehend that if this Mr. Hicks, who is said to be immensely wealthy, should take a fancy to Evelina, the old man's influence would be exerted in his behalf. I have too high an opinion of Evelina to believe that she could be induced by the wealth of the Indies to break an engagement which, I will tell you in confidence, has been entered into between us; but her advocacy of this Mr. Hicks, added to the other considerations I mentioned, did for a time confirm and heighten that feeling of jealousy, and caused me to make remarks which I am now ashamed of, and sincerely sorry for."

  Mrs. Boswell laughingly said, "Evelina, Mr. Grattan, wouldn't marry that Yankee from Boston for all the wealth of California, Australia, and Mexico, together. Upon my word! a real flaring up of jealousy! and for no earthly imaginable cause."

  "Pray, Mrs. Boswell, don't expose my folly to any one. If you should, however, hear Evelina say anything of what passed, you may tell her of my deep mortification and contrition, and that I most earnestly crave her pardon for my remarks."

  When Evelina went to her father, he pretended some excuse for wishing her to come to him; but the whole truth was, he wished to draw her away from Mr. Grattan; and it was very unfortunate for herself and Mr. Grattan, too, that just by her father stood Mr. Hicks, in conversation with Miss Eliza McKnight. She was so near as to hear Mr. Hicks propose some game for the amusement of the company, to which Miss Eliza sneeringly replied, "No, Mr. Hicks, I should be afraid of scaring away the Reverend Mr. Grattan."

  "He might go, and welcome, for me," replied Mr. Hicks.

  Mr. Grattan discovered that Mr. Hicks was immediately in her neighbourhood, and concluded that it had been design, on the part of her father, to bring them together. He stood for some time, after Mrs. Boswell left, with his eyes riveted on the spot where Evelina and her father were standing, and saw Mr. Hicks leave Miss Eliza McKnight, and enter into conversation with Evelina. Mr. Preble just then looked at his watch, and said it was nearly one in the morning. There was a general rush from the room by the ladies, to prepare for their departure. Mr. Hicks posted himself near the outer door, and was ready to help Miss Evelina to the carriage. As he was doing so, Mr. Preble very politely told him that he should be very much pleased to see him at the Cottage. All of which was seen and heard by Mr. Grattan.

  Evelina and Mr. Grattan went that morning to their respective homes with heavy hearts; the latter with a condemning conscience for entertaining unfounded suspicions, which he could not even then entirely divest himself

  On their way home, Mrs. Boswell said to the Doctor; "Could you keep a secret if I were to tell you one?"

  "You are bound to tell me, my dear, whether I promise to keep it or not. Wives, you know, have no right to have secrets which they could not communicate to their husbands; however, I will promise not to divulge it."

  "Mr. Grattan is quite jealous of young Hicks, from Boston."

  "That is impossible, my dear; he certainly cannot, even in thought, do so much injustice to Evelina, as to suppose she would marry that booby, who is to me the most disagreeable stranger I have ever met with. Why, he hasn't an idea beyond negroes and slavery. He almost bored me to death."

  "Mr. Grattan told me so himself, but seemed to be very sorry for it, and asked me to beg pardon of Evelina for the surmises he made relative to it."

  "I would as soon think, my dear, that Evelina would marry Looney or Brock, as that thick-skulled Bostonian. I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Grattan acted so little like himself."

  "The best people in the world will sometimes, my dear husband, do and say silly things, but there is nobody who would regret an imprudent word or action more than Mr. Grattan."

  "If he said anything to wound the feelings of Evelina, he deserves a severe castigation of conscience."

  They arrived at home about two o'clock In the morning,

  "Well, Robin," said the Doctor, "has the wedding-party cleared out?"

  "Yes, masser, all de strangers dat was here dun cleared out, sir."

  "Was everything conducted properly, Robin?"

  "Yes, sir. Dey didn' dance, cause dey couldn' git de fiddler; I a'n't been hear any noise, sir; I's bin told dey 'muse' demsel's playin' sell de thimble, sir. All de black people 'pon dis plantation sleep now, but me."

  "I did not expect you to sit up, Robin, after everything was quiet."

  "Masser, I thought de bes' plan to 'lieve your mind, sir, was to set up tell you com' home, an' let you know dat everything went on well, sir."

  "Did you get any supper, Uncle Robin?" asked Mrs. Boswell.

  "Yes, Missis, Dinah send me large piece o' cake, and somethin' of every thin' she had for supper, madam."