Come, come! Fish from the river, cakes and coffee, Mr. Pincornet--and
afterwards wine on the terrace!"

The road climbed on. Between the stems of the tall trees, feathered with
the green of mid-spring, the dogwood displayed its stars, and the fringe
tree rose like a fountain. Everywhere was the sound of wind in the
leaves. When the riders and the dancing master, who was afoot, reached
the crest of the little mountain, shaven and planed by the hand of man
into a fair plateau, the moon was shining brightly. In the silver light,
across the dim lawns, classically simple, grave, and fair, rose the
house that Jefferson had built. The gate clanged behind the party from
Charlottesville, a dog barked, a light flared, voices of negroes were
heard, and hurrying feet from the house quarter. Upon the lawn to the
right and left of the mansion were two toy houses, tiny brick offices
used by Jefferson for various matters. The door of one of these now
opened, and Mr. Bacon, the overseer, hastening across the wet grass,
greeted Rand and Gaudylock as they dismounted before the white portico.

"Evening, evening, Mr. Rand! I knew you'd be coming up, so I hurried on
afore ye. Cæsar and Joab, you take the horses round! Glad to see you,
Adam; you too, Mr. Pincornet! Well, Mr. Rand, you spoiled the Egyptians
this day! I never saw a finer election! Me and Mr. Fagg were talking of
you. 'His father was a fighter before him,' says Mr. Fagg, says he, 'and
he's a fighter, too, damn him!' says he, 'and we'll send him higher yet.
Damn the Federalists!' says he. 'He's a taller man than Ludwell Cary!'"

"I'm a mighty hungry man, Mr. Bacon," said Rand. "And so is Adam, and so
is Mr. Pincornet! You'll take supper with us, I hope? We'll make Adam
Gaudylock tell us stories of Louisiana."