"The young 'squire, he tole me fer ter ast the jedge ter 'pint a gyardeen over the proppity o' Sabriny, along o' her beein'--thet is ter say--_wimmen_ bein' incompertent ter--thet is, Miss Brady, _mose_ wimmen not havin' the 'bility fer ter hannel a large proppity--even if they is--. I aint sayin' that Sabriny is diff'nt fum mose wimmen, you mine. They is folks thet say her mine is--thet she aint adzackly right in her head; but lawsy, _I_ aint sayin' thet; an' you mus' know thet wimmin' aint in no way fit fer ter manage a proppity--a large proppity---more especial if they is any man a-tryin' fer ter git hit away frum 'em." "Why, is anybody trying to get poor Sabriny's money, Jeb?" asked the young 'squire's mother in sympathetic wonder. But Jeb had been warned that he would better not commit himself if he hoped for fair sailing. He turned his straw over and put the stiff end between his teeth again, glanced covertly about, concluded that the lady was not setting a trap for him, and began again. "I aint a sayin' as they is, an' I aint a swarin' thet they aint. Mebby you mout o' heard uv Lige Tummun?" "Yes, I have heard that he is a trifling fellow," said the young 'squire's mother. "I hope there is no way he can get Sabriny's little pension." "I aint a sayin' nothin' agin' _Lige_," said Jeb, with wily inflection which said all things against that luckless wight. "I aint sayin' nothing' _agin_ Lige, an' I aint sayin' thet he wants ter git hole uv Sabriny fer ter git her proppity; but he hev drawed up a paper, an' she hev sign hit, fer ter live with him an' his ole 'oman the res' er her days fer, an' in consideration, uv the hull uv thet back pension _down_, en half--er as near half as $2.11 kin be halft,--every month whilse she live; an' he bines hisself fer ter feed, an' cloth, an pervide fer her so long as they both do live, by an' accordin' ter the terms uv thet theer paper he hed draw'd up and Sabriny hev sign." "Too bad, too bad," said the young 'squire's mother; "but the judge will appoint you, don't you think, since she is weak-minded, and Lige is so unreliable? Poor Sabriny would have very little comfort in that torn-down hut I'm afraid. Did the judge say he would see to it?" Jeb took the straw from between his teeth, and his lip resumed its normal position. He turned and twisted, seated himself on the lower step, and readjusted his hat on his knee. Then he went on:--