'It is quite rare to find a white gentleman so fond of negroes,' she rejoined, with an air slightly more supercilious. I remembered her as the humble schoolmistress, whose entire possessions were packed in one trunk; and, forgetting myself, said, in a tone which bore a slight trace of indignation: 'More rare, I fear, than it should be; and you and I, madam, who are Yankees, and have 'worked for a living,' surely cannot despise the negroes because they are _compelled_ to work for theirs.' 'Oh! no, sir! not by any means! But you must excuse me; the carriage is waiting to take me to church;' and, rising, she bowed herself stiffly out of the door. 'Ah, you hit her there!' exclaimed Joe, springing to his feet in great glee, and striding to the window. 'See here, Mr. Kirke! See what a turnout the Yankee 'schulemarm' has worried out of father!' 'My son, you must not speak so; she is your mother!' said Preston. 'No, I'm d--d if she is! Call her anything but that, father; that's an--'he checked himself; but I thought he would have added--'insult to my dead mother!' Preston made no reply. Looking out of the window, I saw Mrs. Preston being handed into a magnificent barouche by one of the black gentry she so much despised. Another one in gaudy gold livery sat on the box, and a mounted outrider, also bound up in gold braid, stood behind the carriage. 'There's a two-thousand-dollar turnout, and two fifteen-hundred-dollar niggers, to tote a woman who ought to go afoot. It's a poor investment, I swear,' said Joe, turning away from the window. Preston made no reply; but I laughingly remarked: 'Come, Joe, she isn't _your_ wife. Let your father spend his money as he pleases; he can afford it.' 'He _can't_ afford it; that woman is running him to the devil at a two-forty gait. You have more influence with him than any one, Mr. Kirke--_do_ try to stop it!' The young man spoke in a decided but regretful tone, and his manner showed more respect to his father than his words implied. Unwilling to interfere in such an affair, I said nothing; but Preston, in a moment, remarked: 'It is true, Kirke! Her extravagance has ruined my credit at home, and forced me to use Joe's indorsements; besides, I have had to borrow ten thousand dollars of him to keep my head above water.' [Mr. James Preston--the Squire's uncle--had died the year before, and the young man had succeeded to his large property and business.] I was thunderstruck; but, before I could reply, Joe said: 'I don't care a rush for the money. Father can have every dollar I've got; but I _do_ want to see him rid of that woman. I've been here sick for two months, and I've seen the whole. She is worrying the very life out of him. She's made him an old man at forty.' It was true. His face was lean and haggard, and his hair already thickly streaked with white. Preston rose, and, walking the room, said: