whispered Shooba, "in my country when I young,
chief get mad with chief more stronger, not fight with
spears. Call Witch doctor and make Medicine. Stronger
chief, him come dead one day soon. Maybe bumbye you and me
make some Medicine?" My lips curl'd somewhat. Poor old
Shooba making medicine against the Hyndses. "You go now and
think some. I stay here, and think some, too. Maybe one time
you find medicine. Maybe one time my Snake find."

I went away, smiling sadly. 'T would need strong medicine to
heal me and Shooba!

Now Time pass'd, and they fell to planning for Freeman's
Ball. 'T was to be a Grand affair, and there was Talk of my
Aunt's Frock, and wearing of the Hynds Jewells. And
Richard's Wife was to be Allow'd to wear the Queen's
Emerald.

Came Emily to me in secret, and says she, "Come, Jessamine,
be Friends with me. My Mind is Fix'd you shall Outshine all
the other Ladies. I have the very Frock for you, just new
come from London, a lustrous thing will make you glow &
Sparkle like a Ruby. We shall make it a State Secret,
Jessamine. Not a word shall be breath'd, but you shall burst
upon them all like a Meteor!"

I do admit that ever was something Noble & Generous in
Emily, that something in myself did Honour. I had thank'd
her Thought, but that Richard came in & kiss'd her for it,
saying he een Lov'd her the Better for that she lov'd his
haughty Cozzen. But, O God, they Two went away Hand in Hand!
He forgot me for her sake, so completely that he said not
even, "Good-by."

That night went I to Shooba secretly, and said, "Is thy
Snake awake? For A Thought is in my mind." Then took we
Counsel together. Shooba is a man most cunning in all manner
of Herbs and Simples. They in Hynds House began for to sleep
sweetly and soundly, but felt no ill Effects. Nay, they rose
betimes most pleasantly rest'd & refresh'd.

Then did Shooba and I, who thus had undisturb'd Access to
my Aunt's room, work swiftly until Dawn. Three nights and a
half night did we two work, before our Task was compleat'd,
the Kernell's filch'd from the Nuts, and the Empty Shells
left for my lady's adorning of herself at my lord's
birth-night Ball.

Oh, 't was a rare, rare Jest! I laugh'd and old Shooba
laugh'd. And I did chap them atween