“Back out! Who back out? Me back out? I ain’t nevah backed out: Mistah Taf’ foolin’ you.” “’Tain’ me he’s a-foolin’. He may be foolin’ some folks, but hit ain’t Marfy Jane Madison. La, Mistah Dunkin, I knows colo’ed folks, I kin shet my eyes an’ put my han’s on ’em in de da’k. Co’se hit ain’t none o’ my business, but I know he ain’t puttin’ on his bes’ clothes, an’ gwine to see dat teachah th’ee times a week, ’less ’n he got notions in his haid. ’Tain’t in human natur, leastways not colo’ed human natur as I knows it. ’Tain’t me he’s a-foolin’.” “Do he put on his best clothes an’ go th’ee times a week?” “Dat he do, an’ ca’ies huh flowahs f’om ol’ Major Richardson’s pusservatory besides, an’ you ain’t makin’ a move.” “Ain’t Mistah Taf’ nevah tol’ you nothin’?” “Tol’ me nothin’! No, suhree. What he got to tell me?” “Uh huh!” said Mr. Dunkin, thoughtfully. “Well, good-night, Miss Marfy. I’s glad I seed you; but I mus’ be gittin’ along. I got to delibe’ate ovah dis question.” “Oh, yes; you go on an’ delibe’ate, dat’s right, an’ while you delibe’atin’, Mistah Taf’ he walk off wid de lady. But ’tain’t none o’ my business, ’tain’t none o’ my business.” Mr. Dunkin deliberated as he walked down the street. Could there be any truth in Martha Madison’s surmises? He had talked with Alonzo only the day before, and been assured that everything was going right. Could it be that his lieutenant was playing him false? Some suspicious circumstances now occurred to his mind. When he had spoken of going himself to see Miss Callena, he remembered now how Alonzo had insisted that he had matters in such a state that the interference of Mr. Dunkin just at that point would spoil everything. It looked dark. His steps were taking him toward Major Richardson’s. He heard a footstep, and who should be coming toward him, arrayed even as Martha Madison had said, but the subject of his cogitations? Mr. Dunkin thought he saw Alonzo start as their eyes met. He had a bouquet in his hand. “Hey ho, ’Lonzo. Gwine down to Miss Callena’s?” “Why—why—ye’—yes. I jes’ thought I would walk down that way in yo’ int’rus’.” “My! but you sholy has got yo’se’f up fit to kill.” “When de genul sen’s his messengers out to negoterate, dey mus’ go in full unifo’m, so’s to impress de people dat dey genul is somebody.” “Jesso,” assented the elder man, “but I don’t want you to be waihin’ out yo’ clothes in my suhvice, ’Lonzo.” “Oh, dat’s all right, Mistah Dunkin; hit’s a pleasuah, I assuah you.” “How’s things comin’ on, anyhow, down to Miss Callena’s?” “Couldn’t be bettah, suh; dey’s most puspicious. Hit’ll soon be time fu’ you to come in an’ tek mattahs in yo’ own han’s.” “Do you tell Miss Callena ’bout de houses an’ lan’?” “Oh, yes; I tells huh all about dat.” “What she say?” “Oh, she jes’ smiles.” “I reckon you tol’ huh ’bout de hogs an’ de chickens an’ de hosses?” “Yes, indeed, I sholy done dat.” “What she do den?” “She jes’ smiled.”