rah?"

"Well, m'm, I could n' exactly say--Sairey she 's done lef me--yes, 'm."
He looked so cheerful that his mistress said with asperity:

"Left you! She has run off, too! You must have treated her badly?"

"No, 'm. I did n'. I never had a wife I treated better. I let her had
all she could eat; an' when she was sick----"

"I heard she was sick. I heard you sent for the doctor."

"Yes, 'm; dat I did--dat 's what I was gwine to tell you. I had a doctor
to see her _twice_. I had two separate and _indifferent_ physicians:
fust Dr. Overall, an' den Marse Douglas. I could n' do no mo' 'n dat,
now, could I?"

"Well, I don't know," observed Mrs. Meriwether. "My son told me a week
ago that she was sick. Did she get well?"

The old man shook his head solemnly.

"No, 'm; but she went mighty easy. Marse Douglas he eased her off. He is
the bes' doctor I ever see to let 'em die easy."

Mingled with her horror at his cold-blooded recital, a smile flickered
about Mrs. Meriwether's mouth at this shot at her son, the doctor; but
the old man looked absolutely innocent.

"Why did n 't you send for the doctor again?" she demanded.

"Well, m'm, I gin her two chances. I think dat was 'nough. I wuz right
fond o' Sairey; but I declar' I 'd rather lost Sairey than to _broke_."

"You would!" Mrs. Meriwether sat up and began to bristle. "Well, at
least, you have the expense of her funeral; and I 'm glad of it," she
asserted with severity.

"Dat 's what I come over t' see you 'bout. I 'm gwine to give Sairey a
fine fun'ral. I want you to let yo' cook cook me a cake an'--one or two
more little things."

"Very well," said Mrs. Meriwether, relenting somewhat; "I will tell her
to do so. I will tell her to make you a good cake. When do you want it?"

"Thank you m'm. Yes, m'm; ef you 'll gi' me a right good-sized
cake--an'--a loaf or two of flour-bread--an'--a ham, I 'll be very much
obleeged to you. I heah she 's a mighty good cook?"

"She is," said Mrs. Meriwether; "the best I 've had in a long time."
She had not caught the tone of interrogation in his voice, nor seen the
shrewd look in his face, as I had done. Jabez appeared well satisfied.

"I 'm mighty glad to heah you give her sech a good character; I heahed
you 'd do it. I don' know her very well."

Mrs. Meriwether looked up quickly enough to catch his glance this time.

"Jabez--I know nothing about her character," she began coldly. "I know
she has a vile temper; but she is