Dr. Delaven passed along the hall in time to hear this bantering query, and came opposite the door when this true daughter of the South was counting all the fingers of one pretty hand. "Just make it a half dozen," he suggested, "for I'm wearing yet the sunflower you gave me," and he pointed to the large daisy in his buttonhole. "No, I'm always honest with Gertrude, and she must have the true number. We are talking of military men, and all others are barred out." "So you informed me the first day of our acquaintance," he assented, arranging the daisy more to his liking. "And I've never forgiven you for that first day," she retorted, nodding her head in a way suggestive of some dire punishment waiting for him in the future. "It was dreadful, the way he led me on to say things, Aunt Sajane, for how was I to guess he was the doctor? I was expecting a man like--well, like Dr. Allison, only more so; very learned, very severe, with eye glasses through which he would examine us as though we were new specimens discovered in the wilds of America. I certainly did not expect to find a frivolous person who wore daisies, and--oh!" as she caught a glimpse of some one coming up the path from the landing--"there comes Nelse. Gertrude, _can't_ I have him in here?" "May I ask if Nelse is one of the five distinguished by your colors?" asked Delaven. "Nelse is distinguished by his own colors, which is a fine mahogany, and he is the most interesting old reprobate in Carolina--a wizard, if you please--a sure enough voodoo doctor, and the black historian of the Salkahatchie. May I call him?" "I really do not think uncle likes to have him around," said Gertrude, dubiously; "still--oh, yes, call him if you like. Don't let him tire you with his stories; and keep him out of uncle's way. He would be sure to tell him about those late runaways." "I promise to stand guard in that case myself, Miss Loring; for I have a prejudice against allowing witch-doctors access to my patients." Mrs. Nesbitt arose as if to follow Gertrude from the room, hesitated, and resumed her chair. "When I was a girl we young folks were all half afraid of Nelse--not that he ever harmed any one," she confessed. "The colored folks said he was a wizard, but I never did give credit to that." "Aunt Chloe, she says he is!" "Oh, yes; and Aunt Chloe sees ghosts, and talks with goblins, to hear her tell the story; but that old humbug is just as much afraid of a mouse as--as I am." "Nelse is a free nigger," explained Evilena, turning from the window after having motioned him to enter. "He was made free by his old master, Marmaduke Loring, and the old rascal--I mean Nelse, bought himself a wife, paid for her out of his jockey earnings, and when she proved a disappointment what do you think he did?" Delaven could not get beyond a guess, as the subject of her discourse had just then appeared in the door.