d submitted to this lengthy harangue,
because I saw I could more certainly accomplish the purchase by
indulging the humor of the trader. The suspense was, no doubt, agony to
Phyllis, and the Squire manifested decided impatience, but the delay
seemed unavoidable. It was difficult for Preston to control himself. He
chafed like a chained tiger. At first he paced up and down the farther
side of the apartment, then sat down, then rose and paced the room
again, and then again sat down, every now and then glaring upon Larkin
with a look of savage ferocity that showed the wild beast was rising in
him. The trader once in a while looked toward him with a cool unconcern
that indicated two things: nerves of iron, and perfect familiarity with
such demonstrations.

Fearing an explosion, I at last stepped up to the Squire, and said to
him in a low tone: 'Let me beg of you to leave the room--_do_--you may
spoil all.' He made no reply, but did as I requested.

When he had gone, Larkin remarked, in an indifferent way, 'The Squire's
got the devil in him. He's some when his blood's up--edged tools,
dangerous ter handle--he is--I knows him.' I'd ruther have six like Tom
on me, ony time, than one like him. But he karn't skeer me. The man
doan't breathe thet kin turn Jake Larkin a hair.'

'I see he's excited,' I replied; 'but why is he so interested in this
woman?'

'Why? She was fotched up 'long with him--children together. He owned har
till he got in the nine-holes one day, and sold har ter the Gin'ral. I'd
bet a pile the young 'uns ar his'n. He knows har as he do the psa'm
book. Ha! ha!' and he laughed his brutal laugh, as, chucking Phyllis
again under the chin, he asked, 'Doan't he, gal?'

She shrank away from him, but said nothing.

'Doan't be squeamy, gal; out with it; we'll think the more on ye fur't.
Arn't the young 'uns his'n? Didn't ye b'long ter the Squire till he got
so d----d pious five year ago?'

'Yes, master; I belonged to him; Master Robert wus allers pious.'

'Yes, I knows; he wus allers preachin' pious. But didn't ye b'long ter
him--ye knows what I means--till he got so d----d camp-meetin' pious
five year ago?'

'Master Robert was allers camp-meetin' pious,' replied the woman,
looking down, and drawing her thin shawl more closely over her open
bosom.

'Well,' said Larkin, 'ye karn't git nothin' out o' har, but it's
so--sartin! Ev'ry 'un says so; and what ev'ry 'un says arn't more'n a
mile from the truth. Jest l