a woolly token from young Gumbo's pate. Of course he said he was regum
progenies, a descendant of Ashantee kings. In Caffraria, Connaught and
other places now inhabited by hereditary bondsmen, there must have been
vast numbers of these potent sovereigns in former times, to judge from
their descendants now extant.

At the morning announced for Madame de Bernstein's departure, all the
numerous domestics of Castlewood crowded about the doors and passages,
some to have a last glimpse of her ladyship's men and the fascinating
Gumbo, some to take leave of her ladyship's maid, all to waylay the
Baroness and her nephew for parting fees, which it was the custom of
that day largely to distribute among household servants. One and the
other gave liberal gratuities to the liveried society, to the gentlemen
in black and ruffles, and to the swarm of female attendants. Castlewood
was the home of the Baroness's youth; and as for her honest Harry, who
had not only lived at free charges in the house, but had won horses and
money--or promises of money--from his cousin and the unlucky chaplain,
he was naturally of a generous turn, and felt that at this moment he
ought not to stint his benevolent disposition. "My mother, I know," he
thought, "will wish me to be liberal to all the retainers of the Esmond
family." So he scattered about his gold pieces to right and left, and
as if he had been as rich as Gumbo announced him to be. There was no one
who came near him but had a share in his bounty. From the major-domo to
the shoeblack, Mr. Harry had a peace-offering for them all. To the grim
housekeeper in her still-room, to the feeble old porter in his lodge,
he distributed some token of his remembrance. When a man is in love with
one woman in a family, it is astonishing how fond he becomes of every
person connected with it. He ingratiates himself with the maids; he is
bland with the butler; he interests himself about the footman; he runs
on errands for the daughters; he gives advice and lends money to the
young son at college; he pats little dogs which he would kick otherwise;
he smiles at old stories which would make him break out in yawns, were
they uttered by any one but papa; he drinks sweet port wine for which he
would curse the steward and the whole committee of a club; he bears even
with the cantankerous old maiden aunt; he beats time when darling little
Fanny performs her piece on the piano; and smiles when wicked, lively
little Bobby upse