“Who is Marse Lonny, Liza?” “Marse Lonny Bruce, miss, which was ole Marse Commodo’s onliest son, and was lost at sea on his fust v’yage, in de Benighted States man-o’-war _Eagle_, which it broke his mother’s heart to that degree as she pined away and died in less than a year afterwards.” “I do not wonder, indeed,” said Em., gazing almost fondly on the bright frank face before her. “And dey do say de commodo’ have never been de same man since. I don’t memorize poor Marse Lonny as well as I ought to, he being ole marster’s onliest son, and lost at sea; but, den, Miss Em., it ain’t my fault, ’cause I wasn’t born den; hows’ever, mammy memorizes all about him, and de very day he got his middy’s new uniform, and de fust time he ever put it on, which it is de self-same his portrait is painted in.” “And this is his portrait,” murmured Em. in a low voice as she knelt down before the picture to get a nearer and a better view. “Yes, miss, de onliest portrait as he ebber had took, and it was took that spring, jes’ ’fore he sailed on dat misfortnit v’yage whar he was lost.” “And why is it poked away in the lumber-room? It seems a cruel slight.” “Oh, my dear Miss Em., ’cause de ole marster he nebber could endure de sight ob it arter poor Marse Lonny was drowned. If ebber he come across it by accident it would knock him ober for all day. His onliest son, you know, Miss Em. So Mrs. Bruce, which hab kept house for ole marse ebber since his wife died, Mrs. Bruce she put de picture—hung it up on de wall, you know, miss, first in one room and den in t’other, but ole marster was sure to come upon it in his rambles about the house some time or other, and be upset for a whole day; so den de madam put it in dis here garret lumber-room, whar nobody nebber comes, not eben ole marster.” “Oh, Liza,” eagerly exclaimed Em., “since it is pushed away in this rubbish room, do you think I might not have it in my room? If I were to ask Mrs. Bruce do you think she would let me have it while I stay here?” “No call to bother de madam ’bout it. De madam gib me my orders to fix up your room comfortable and ’tractive, and to take anything out ob de lumber-room dat might be useful. And didn’t I take de fender and de handy irons out ob de lumber-room and mightn’t I take de picture? Yes, miss! I’ll take de picture and de ’sponsibility bofe!” said Liza; and suiting the action to the word she gave Em. her candle, pulled away the _impedimenti_ from before the portrait, lifted it from its place and carried it away to the southwest room, followed by Em., bearing the two lights. Em.’s looking-glass stood upon the dressing-table. There was no glass on top of the old chest of drawers, but a good, vacant place for the portrait, and there they set it.