Daph had taken off the shawl from Louise, and set Charlie on his feet, that the children might appear to the best advantage; she stood proudly between them, as she said, “I wants to hire a room for my missus’s children. We’s been ’bliged to come north this summer, and will have to look out a bit for ourselves, as massa could n’t come wid us.” “Daphne,” said the woman, sweetening a little, “Captain Jones says that is your name, and that you are an honest industrious woman? Do you think you will be able to pay the rent, regularly?” “I has a right to my name,” said Daph, straightening up her stout figure. “Missus had it gib to me, like any white folks, when she had me baptised. I isn’t particler about having all of it, so most folks calls me Daph. Is I honest? Look me in de eye, and answer dat yeself. Is I industrious? Look at dat arm, and dese ere fingers; do dey look like if I was lazy?” The clear eye, muscular arm, and hard work-worn hand were indeed the best assurances the doubtful questioner could have received. “As to de rent,” added Daph, “my missus’ children isn’t widout money.” As she spoke, she gave her pocket a hearty shake, which produced a significant chinking, that seemed quite satisfactory. “You are a queer one!” said the woman, “but you may as well look at the room. It’s right there in front; you passed it as you came in.” Daph stepped to the door of the front room, pushed it open, and looked around her, with her head thrown a little on one side, as if that position were favorable to forming a correct judgment as to its merits. “Well, it do be radder small,” she said, after a few moment’s dignified consideration, “but den it be proper clean, and two winder to de street, for de childen. Haven’t ye got anything to put in it; no chair, nor table, nor such like?” “You will have to furnish for yourself,” said the woman, “but you shall have the room on reasonable terms.” The bargain was soon made, but whether on reasonable terms or not, Daph had but little idea, though she prudently concealed her ignorance. Once in her own domain, Daph sat down on the floor, and giving each of the children a huge sea-biscuit, she took them in her arms, and began to wave to and fro, singing one of the wild negro melodies, which spring up wherever the African race take root. The weary children were soon in a sound sleep, and then Daph laid them carefully down on the clean floor, covered them with the shawls she had found so useful, and then sat stock-still beside them, for a few moments, lost in deep thought. After a while, she took from her pocket the purse the captain had given her, and her own store of small change, wrapped in its bit of rag. The latter she laid aside, saying, “That mus do for eat. Dat Daph’s own. Now dis, Daph jus borry from de cap’in. Massa’s children don’t have to come to livin on other people when Daph’s on her feet. Cap’in Jones got he money’s worth in that beauty gold chain I puts in his hand, and he not know it.”