Mr. Middleton looked first at Raymond, then at Stanton and said, "Well, he knows good sense by not touchin’ on’t, I reckon. Got a sweetheart, hey? That’s better than to come here and marry some of our spitfires. Poor boy! Dick was engaged to one of ’em, and I’ve hearn that she raised a tantareen and broke his heart. But I’ll fix her! I’ll dock off fifty thousand to pay for that caper." Here Mr. Ashton asked if Mr. Middleton’s daughters were still at Frankfort. "Yes," returned Mr. Middleton, "both thar, study in’ all the flat things you can think on, and thummin’ away on the pianner. You’ll see ’em thar; but mind me one and all, mind I say, don’t fall in love with Sunshine, for she’s engaged, and I’ve gin my consent, and whoever meddles in that match’ll find Josh after ’em!" By way of adding emphasis to his words he brought his fist back against a work-stand, on which stood his wife’s work basket. The stand was upset, and all the articles of the basket rolled on the floor. "Great Peter!" said Mr. Middleton, "ho, Tilda, come pick up these ’ere things!" Tilda came at the call of her master. While she was replacing the articles in her mistress’ basket, Raymond, who wished to show that he was ready to adopt all the peculiarities of the State, said, "That’s a valuable looking negro girl. I suppose your property mostly consists in such as she. I don’t wonder that you object to give them up just to please the North. Have you many such?" "Yes, quite a heap on ’em. Why? Want to steal ’em, hey?" Raymond reddened. His attempts at anti-abolition had not succeeded as well as he anticipated; but he soon rallied and said, "Certainly not; I shouldn’t know what to do with your slaves if I had them; besides I have no inclination to interfere with your Southern institutions. I am too much of a pro-slavery man myself." "Likely enough," said Mr. Middleton, rather gruffly, for he did not much like the appearance of Raymond, "likely enough. But, young man, let old Josh give you a little advice. I’ve seen more than double your years, I reckon, and I never seen a man come from the free states that wasn’t a little teched with abolitionism. It’s nateral like and onnateral to change their mind so mighty soon. So I advise you to keep your opinions to yourself for a spell, any way. A heap on ’em come here, and are surprised not to find a whippin’ post stuck up in a corner of every yard. I don’t say you are one of ’em; but we don’t think no better of a body when they jine in with us so soon." This speech somewhat disconcerted young Raymond, who was anxious to get into Mr. Middleton’s good graces; but his discomfiture was soon removed by his saying, "Boy, don’t take what I’ve said in high dudgeon. Folks allus see the roughest side of me first; I’m a friend to you, and allus will be as long as you do well." Then chancing to think his guests were hungry, he called out, "Saints and angels! Why don’t you bring in supper, you lazy bones thar in the kitchen? Do you hear?"