d to meet you!" and Ham held out a hand like a shoulder
of mutton, and engulfed the marquis's slender fingers.

"I am delighted to make the acquaintance of Mr. Belfort," said Ste.
Valerie, with winning grace. "I please myself to think that we are
related by blood. My mother was a Bellefort of Blanque; it is the French
form of your name, Mr. Belfort."

"I want to know!" said Ham. "_Darned_ pleased to meet you!" He laboured
for a moment, casting a glance of appeal at the oxen, who showed no
disposition to assist him; then added, "You're slim-appearin' for a
Belfort; they run consid'able large in these parts."

"Truly, yes!" cried the marquis, laughing delightedly. "You desire to
show the world that there are still giants. What pleasure, what rapture,
to go through the crowd of small persons, as myself, as D'Arthenay here,
and exhibit the person of Samson, of Goliath!"

Ham eyed him gravely. "Meanin' shows?" he asked, after a pause of
reflection. "No, we've never shew none, as I know of. We've been asked,
father 'n' I, to allow guessin' on our weight at fairs and sech, but we
jedged it warn't jest what we cared about doin'. Sim'lar with shows!"

This speech was rather beyond Ste. Valerie, and seeing him look puzzled,
I struck in, "Mr. Ste. Valerie wants to see the old graves in the old
burying-ground, Ham. I told him there were plenty of Belforts there, and
spelling the name as he does, with two l's and an e in the middle."

"I want to know if he spells it that way!" said Ham, politely. "We
jedged they didn't know much spellin', in them times along back, but I
presume there's different idees. Does your folks run slim as a rule?"

"Very slim, my cousin!" said Yvon. "Of my generation, there is none so
great as myself."

"I _want_ to know!" said Ham; and the grave compassion in his voice was
almost too much for my composure. He seemed to fear that the subject
might be a painful one, and changed it with a visible effort.

"Well, there's plenty in the old berr'in-ground spelt both ways. Likely
it don't matter to 'em now."

He pondered again, evidently composing a speech; again he demanded help
of the oxen, and went so far as to examine an ear of the nigh ox with
anxious attention.

"'Pears as if what Belforts is above the sod ought to see something of
ye!" he said at last. "My woman is sick, and liable to turn--I should
say, liable to pass away most any time; but if she should get better,
or--anything--I should be p