_Rowell._ Well, I certainly have heard something to my advantage. So, my fine soldier-boy, you love my ward, Gaylie Gifford. So do I. There we are perfectly agreed. But, when it comes to possession, I think we shall quarrel. Forewarned, forearmed. I have purchased this farm for the purpose of pleasing my ward; well knowing, that, had she been informed of the sale, she would have requested its purchase, that in gratitude she might have restored it to her old protectress. Her gratitude to me, for my wise forethought, would, no doubt, bring me one step nearer to my ambition. But this soldier loves her; should she be allowed to carry out her wishes, would love her all the more, perhaps arouse an answering affection. No. I'll keep the farm for my own pleasure; perhaps play the _rôle_ of benefactor myself. Gaylie's large fortune must be shared with me. I never dreamed of this fellow's ambition. He rise? If fortune only smile upon me, I will guard against that. _Crimp_ (_outside_). I'm obleeged to you, Massa Jinks. I jes w-w-want to know w-w-w-whar you gwine t-t-t-ote dis yere farm? _Hosea_ (_outside_). Oh, bother! do you suppose we're going to dig it up, and cart it off, you stupid? (_Enter door in flat, followed by_ CRIMP.) _Crimp._ S'pose, s'pose; donno nuffin 'bout s'posin, Massa Jinks. You cum down here, Massa Jinks, betwixt eleben and seben, A.M., into de forenoon. You stick up a red frag ober de do', and you gets up onto de barril; and, when you's onto de barril, you gets a crowd round de barril, and deliber a Fourfe-ob-July speech onto de barril, and you jaw away, and ax 'em for dollars, nine hundred dollars, fify dollars, and tell dat ar assemblin' dis yere farm am gwine, gwine, gwine; and all I ax you for to tole me, whar it am gwine for to go. I'm obleeged to you. _Hosea._ Oh! that's only a figurative expression. I've sold the farm: that's all. _Crimp._ Figger-who? Sole de farm; who tole you? who ax you? _Hosea._ My interest. _Crimp._ In-ter-which? who's he? _Hosea._ I had a mortgage on the property, foreclosed, and sold out. _Crimp._ M-m-m-orgages onto de property. No, sar, don't raise 'em; heaps ob cabbages, but no morgages. I'm obleeged to you. _Hosea._ Well, I've sold the property,—house, land, farming-utensils, and live stock. _Crimp._ Live stock; horses, cows, by golly, and de hogs (HOSEA _nods_), and de chickens and roosters? _Hosea._ Yes, sold them all. _Crimp._ By golly, you don't mean it; w-w-w-what we gwine to do for Fanksgibben? And de ole ram Jim,—he gwine too? _Hosea._ Yes, the old ram Jim. _Crimp._ Golly, dat so? I'm obleeged to you, Massa Jinks. Dat are ole ram Jim am de mos' dyspeptic biped— _Hosea._ Quadruped, Crimp. Bipeds walk on two legs: he goes on four.