'You think then, madam, there would be no use in my waiting to see your husband?' 'No; I don't think there's no earthly use in seeing _him_. I tell'd you, again and again, we ain't got no young ones to send--and that's the long and short on it.' 'Good morning, madam.' The young man spoke kindly and courteously, and then left the house, walking with an erect carriage towards the highway. 'Good morning, Aunt Sally.' Mrs. Bloodgood, then, lifting herself up, and putting a hand on each hip, looked with a very stern and fixed gaze through the open door, until the stranger had fairly got out of hearing; and then, without answering Sam's salutation, began to rattle away in her usual style, when by any cause somewhat excited. '_Him_ set up for a schoolmaster, with his fine clothes on, and his bran new hat, and his bowin' and scrapin', and his _madam_, and all that kind of palaver; he ain't nothin' but a chicken himself. No, no: I've seen enough on 'em in my day; there ain't no good comes on 'em; they put more mischief in the heads of the young 'uns than they've got naturally, and that's enough we all know.' 'What's the matter, Aunt Sally?' 'I tell you what, Sam Oakum, I don't want none of them Yankees round me. I don't see why the critters can't stay in their own country, and do some honest thing there for a livin', and not come trampussing away down here with their larnin', that don't do no airthly good, but make the young 'uns lazy, and wanting to be gentlemen like themselves; and what old Molly Brown sent the critter here for, I don't see.' 'Does he want to set up a school, aunt Sally?' said Sam, looking at her with a very anxious countenance. 'He _did_ want to; but I guess he's got enough on it; and I'm so glad he's took himself off 'fore Bloodgood come in, for he's just fool enough to be clean took with him; and he's got his head set about havin' a schoolmaster, and I don't want none of the varmints round.' But looking at Sam very closely, and coming up to him, and feeling his coat and his trousers, and then holding him off at arm's length. '_Do tell!_ where upon airth, Sam, did you get this? How smart you _do_ look. This has been gi'n to you, I know, by them great folks over the water there?' 'Yes.' 'Well, ain't that clever on 'em, Sam? but you're desarvin' of it, and I'm glad on it. It does a body's heart good to see your mother's child look so smart and tidy. I didn't hardly know you when you come in, and that plaguy man put me into such a pucker, I didn't hardly know what I was about.' Sam had become very impatient to be off; he had anticipated a great deal of joy from his errand, in the proud satisfaction of paying a just debt; but he thought not of that now. He had learned enough to know what the stranger's business was, and he could not endure the thought of his leaving the place in such a manner; so taking out his money, and handing it to Mrs. Bloodgood,