The news of the young midshipman's return--or "the young master's," as they chose to call him, in view of his relations, present and prospective, to the family of Mondreer--had spread far and wide among the negroes, and they came flocking up, men, women and children, to shake hands with him and welcome him home. Some of the elder negroes, with "itching palms," belabored him with begging questions of-- "Wot yer got fur yer ole Aunt Mole, honey?" "Wot yer done home f'om furrin' parts fur yer ole Uncle Bob?" And so forth and so forth. Le promised one and all a present as soon as ever his sea chest should arrive. And yet they might have stayed there all day but for the opportune appearance of Aunt Lucy on the scene. She had watched from an upper window the gathering of the crowd, and now she swooped down upon them. "Shame o' yerselbes!" she said. "Come yere bodderin' the young marse fust minute as eber he get in de house! Whar's yer manners?" "Don't scold them, Aunt Lucy," pleaded Le. "They came to welcome me home." "Dey come to beg, dat's wot dey come for--to beg. It's a habit dey gibs deirselves," said the unrelenting Lucy. "It is a habit they cannot indulge in more than once in three years, where I am concerned. I do not come home every day." "An' a werry good fing, too, for it's a werry bad habit." "What, coming home?" "No, sah. Dem niggahs is a werry bad habit as oughtn't to be 'dulged in once--no, not once. Now cl'ar out wid yer all, an' go 'bout yer work." This order was addressed to the negroes, who, overawed by the authority of the chief house servant, began to steal away from the house. CHAPTER XV LE'S FIERY TRIAL Le was still walking up and down on the porch, when Mr. Force rode up, followed by his mounted groom. He did not see Le, who was partly shaded by the bare tangle of the climbing rose vines on the trelliswork. He threw himself out of his saddle, threw his bridle to his groom, and came up the steps. "Ho, my boy!" he shouted, as he caught sight of the youth. "Is that you, really? Welcome! welcome! I am delighted to see you!" And he seized Le by both hands, and shook them heartily. "When did you get home?" he continued, in the same cordial tone. "Only this morning," answered Le, trying to command himself, for the sudden sight of Odalite's father and the jubilant cordiality of his address nearly upset the poor fellow's balance. Had his uncle no feeling, knowing, as he must know, that he, Le, had come home joyfully expecting to marry Odalite, only to meet with a bitter disappointment? "Come into the parlor! Come into the parlor! It is too cold out here! You look quite blue! Come in, and let's get a better view of you!" continued Mr. Force, leading the way into the house, followed by Le. In the hall he threw off his riding coat, drew off his long, India rubber boots, and then entered the parlor, which was on the opposite side from Mrs. Force's sitting room.