Part 20 (2/2)
”Hish-s.h.!.+ Walley, come here--here to the gap.”
The voice proceeded from behind the hedge, formed by a thick growth of Spanish daggers, that completely covered the fence on the left of the lane. There was a small broken place in it, toward which Valentine sauntered indifferently. He saw on the other side the huge head of a gigantic negro, a jet-black, lumbering, awkward, good-natured monster enough, who belonged to Mr. Hewitt, and who sported the imposing cognomen of ”governor.”
”Well, Governor, is that you? What do you want with me?”
”Hish-sh, Walley, don't talk so loud! our oberseer ain't far off.
Brudder 'Lisha, he bin out from town.”
”Well!” exclaimed Valentine, with breathless interest, bending forward.
”W'en you hear from Fannie las'?”
”Not for two weeks. Why do you ask? Have you heard from her? Speak! oh, for Heaven's sake, speak!” exclaimed Valentine, breathlessly.
”Fannie done got de feber.”
”Oh, G.o.d!”
”Brudder 'Lisha, he done bin 'ere dis mornin' and tell we-dem.”
”Oh, Heaven! oh, when was she taken? Who is with her? Is she----”
”Dunno nuffin 'tall 'bout it, 'cept 'tis she's got de feber. Brudder 'Lisha, he done bin dere to her place, an' heern it.”
”Where is Elisha?”
”Done gone right straight back to town.”
”And that is all the satisfaction you can give me,” cried Valentine, beside himself with distress.
”Yaw, yaw! I trought how I'd watch arter you, and tell you--'long as you'd like to hear it. Hish-sh-s.h.!.+ Walley, stoop down here close, till I whisper to you.”
”What now!” exclaimed Valentine, in new alarm, bending his ear to the huge negro's lips.
”Hish-sh-s.h.!.+ Walley, I wish how it wur my 'ooman as had de yaller feber!”
”Wretch!”
”An' wish we-dem's white n.i.g.g.e.r oberseer had it too!”
”What do you mean?”
”And I wish dey bofe might die long of it.”
”Wretch! I say again!”
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