“Up the river some ways to a landin’ on to de Marylan’ shore as I never was at afore.” “And what then?” “She lef’ me den, Hild’eth an’ me, at a farmhouse where we landed, an’ took a horse an’ rode away. She was gone all day. Last night she come back, an’ paid de bill, and took boat an’ come straight home.” “Very well, that is all very well of you, Forrest, so far. You have told the truth, I suppose; but you have not told the whole truth, I know. Whom did she meet at that farmhouse? and who rode away with her when she went?” “Not a singly soul did she meet, ’cept it was de fam’ly. An’ not a singly soul did ride with her.” “You are lying!” exclaimed Nellie, who, in her anger, was very capable of using strong language to the servants. “No! ’fore my ’Vine Marster in heaben, I’se tellin’ of you de trufe, Miss Nellie.” “You are not! Your mistress has tutored you what to say.” The old man’s face flushed darkly, as he answered: “I ax your pardon very humble, Miss Nellie; but Miss Marget couldn’t tutor no one to no false. An’ on de contrairy wise she said to we den, my sister an’ me, she said: ‘Forrest and Hildreth, mind when you are questioned in regard to me tell the truf as jus’ you know it.’ Dat’s all, Miss Nellie. ’Deed it is, madam. Miss Marget is high beyant tutorin’ anybody to any false.” “There! you are not requested to indorse Miss Helmstedt. And very likely she did not take you into her counsels. Now, tell me the name of the place where you stopped?” “I doesn’t know it, Miss Nellie, madam.” “Well, then, the name of the people?” “Dey call de old gemman Marse John, an’ de ole lady Miss Mary. I didn’ hear no other name.” “You are deceiving me!” “No, ’fore my Heabenly Marster, madam.” “You are!” And here followed an altercation not very creditable to the dignity of Mrs. Colonel Houston, and which was, besides, quite fruitless, as the servant could give her no further satisfaction. All that forenoon Margaret sat in her room, occupying her hands with some needlework in which her heart took little interest. She dreaded the dinner hour, in which she should have to face the assembled family. She would gladly have remained fasting in her room, for, indeed, her appetite was gone, but she wished to do nothing that could be construed into an act of resentment. So, when the bell rang, she arose with a sigh, bathed her face, smoothed her black tresses, added a little lace collar and locket brooch to her black silk dress, and passed out to the dining-room.