ng snuff from her jewelled box, nervously.

I bowed.

"Then may I ask what are these _canaille_ to me? Why, old Steadman was
not a cousin within the first degree of Colonel Shepler,--a carter,
Sir,--a hodman! Colonel Shepler was a gentleman; there was ducal blood
in his veins."

"All of which did not render Steadman's sons less the heirs-at-law of
the Shepler properties," I replied, coolly.

"Which they will never inherit, Mr. Humphreys! I have seen them; I know
what the physique of that race is worth; I will walk over their graves
yet!"

And upon my soul, she looked diabolical enough to live forever, and
walk over all of our graves. I began to speak, but she waved her hand
imperiously.

"I have had enough of this. The old carter and his sons have prowled,
jackal-like, at my gate for years, waiting to prey on my dead body. If
they are needy, let them work. I thought better of your instincts than
to suppose you would hear the country gossip, and, worse still, regale
my ears with it."

"I spoke simply in the cause of humanity. If the country people judge
your conduct as I do, Madam, they are more just than I hoped."

She was silent a moment; but I think in her secret soul she liked the
coarse, rough blow.

"The matter is an old story to me," tapping her box impatiently. "I find
it wearisome. For this ring to which you allude, have you remarked it?
It is a Nubian antique,--rare, I fancy."

And so on, and on, sketching the history of the rings she wore, with a
curious felicity in throwing an interest about trifles. I dined with her
that day for the first time: a meagre repast, served on the family
plate. But her wines were exquisite, and dealt with an unsparing hand. I
left her that evening, as I supposed forever,--looking back at the bent
figure in the massive doorway, and thinking her the loneliest human
being I had ever seen. One of her morbid fancies was to intensify that
very solitude,--the negro-quarters being at some distance from the
house, and after she was undressed at night everything living was
banished thence out of her sight. Out of that long life she had not
brought the love of even a dog to bear her company in the last hour.

When I parted with Matthew Steadman, I said nothing to him of what I had
tried to do. I saw his eye grew brighter, and he laughed and joked as at
first.

"I told you I had a plan, and I find it will answer."

"Well, Matt?"

"Joe Carver is an old friend of ours,--Capta