"
"No wonder; for dar isn't a mite ob certainty 'bout his 'tentions.
He jist as like to go off wid a lot ob soldiers as any of de boys,
only he's so mighty keerful ob you, Miss Phill; and den he's 'spectin'
a letter; for de last words he say to me was, 'Take care ob de mail,
Harriet.' De letter come, too. Moke didn't want to gib it up, but I
'sisted upon it. Moke is kind ob plottin' in his temper. He thought
Mass'r Richard would gib him a quarter, mebbe a half-dollar."
"Did you think so, also, Harriet?"
"Dem's de house perquisites, Miss Phill. Moke has nothin' 't all to
do wid de house perquisites."
"Moke has been sick, has he not?"
"Had de fever, he says."
"Is he not one of your classmates? I think I have heard you say he
was 'a powerful member' of Uncle Isaac's class."
"'Clar to gracious, Miss Phill, I forgot dat. Brudder Moke kin hab
de letter and de perquisite."
"I was sure you would feel that way, Harriet."
"I'd rather hab you look at me dat shinin' kind ob way dan hab a
dollar; dat I would, Miss Phill."
Moke got the perquisite and Richard got his letter, but it did not
seem to give him much pleasure. Phyllis noticed that after reading
it he was unhappy and troubled. He took an hour's promenade on the
piazza, and then sat down beside her. "Phyllis," he said, "we have
both been unfortunate in our love.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176