"You'll get enough of that down at Henry Grundy's. That's the only cool place in the county in midsummer. And if you'll take my advice and straddle one of his thoroughbreds once a day, you'll get some color in your face. I've fixed everything for you. You're to have a front room on the ground floor, and pay twelve dollars a month. That's cheaper than stealing it. But you don't want to make a hermit of yourself when you get down there. Come up and spend a week or two with me. Miss 'Pheme [his wife] will be mighty glad to see you. She makes me walk chalk, but she'll be easy on you. You're going to be with mighty fine folks,--the cream of the county. They were very particular at first, but I vouched for you, and that settled it. Henry said he'd be in this morning after you. He's a Presbyterian and a Democrat, and talks to you as though you were deaf, but he's harmless. Why don't you tell me 'bout yourself?" I saw at once that my good friend still insisted on doing all the talking,--one of the traits of his young manhood,--and when I told him that he hadn't drawn breath for five minutes, he seemed surprised. "There's not much to tell about myself, Reuben," I replied. "I've been living alone,--reading, smoking, and thinking a little. Then I fancied that I'd like the country, and here I am." "Where'd you get that?" He jerked one squat thumb toward my crippled retainer. "Picked him up out of the street several months ago, after he'd been run over by a carriage." "Same soft heart as ever, Abner. Remember when one of the boys at school poked that nest of damned little English sparrows out of the gutter? There was about sixteen of 'em, and you gathered the ugly little devils up into your new hat and tried to raise 'em. Don't--you--re-member, Abner?" His fat sides shook, as he ejaculated the last sentence with difficulty. "Yes," I answered, smiling. "My efforts were useless, for the little fellows all died. I felt sorry for them." "I wish they were all in--hello! yonder's Henry, by jolly!" I looked out of the window, and saw an old-fashioned rockaway draw up beside the curbing. The horse which drew it was a high-headed bay; the harness and the vehicle were spotless. A negro lad of near twenty, black as the night before creation, sat on the front seat, and on the rear seat was a man worth looking at twice. As the negro hastily scrambled down and opened the door, this gentleman alighted. He was a trifle over six feet tall; his face was wrinkled and kindly; his brows were gray and shaggy, and his eyes were gray. A patriarchal white beard flowed down over his breast, and his suit was of black broadcloth. Such an evident air of gentility sat upon him, that I mentally congratulated myself that I was to be associated with him. An instant later I heard his stentorian voice in the hall.