"I do declaih," said Hamilton, "you all 's as bad as dem white people
was las' night. De way dey waded into dat food was a caution." He
chuckled with delight at the recollection.

"I reckon dat 's what dey come fu'. I was n't payin' so much 'tention to
what dey eat as to de way dem women was dressed. Why, Mis' Jedge Hill
was des' mo'n go'geous."

"Oh, yes, ma, an' Miss Lessing was n't no ways behin' her," put in
Kitty.

Joe did not condescend to join in the conversation, but contented
himself with devouring the good things and aping the manners of the
young men whom he knew had been among last night's guests.

"Well, I got to be goin'," said Berry, rising. "There 'll be early
breakfas' at de 'house' dis mo'nin', so 's Mistah Frank kin ketch de
fus' train."

He went out cheerily to his work. No shadow of impending disaster
depressed his spirits. No cloud obscured his sky. He was a simple, easy
man, and he saw nothing in the manner of the people whom he served that
morning at breakfast save a natural grief at parting from each other. He
did not even take the trouble to inquire who the strange white man was
who hung about the place.

When it came time for the young man to leave, with the privilege of an
old servitor Berry went up to him to bid him good-bye. He held out his
hand to him, and with a glance at his brother, Frank took it and shook