Part 28 (1/2)

Bill Ezy was whimpering; Wool was sobbing aloud; Old Hurricane was roaring at them both as he drove them on before him, swearing that Ezy should go and find himself a new home and Wool should go and seek another master.

And for this cause Old Hurricane was driving them on to his study, that he might pay the overseer his last quarter's salary and give the servant a written order to find a master.

He raged past Capitola in the hall, and, meeting Mrs. Condiment at the study door, ordered her to bring in her account book directly, for that he would not be imposed upon any longer, but meant to drive all the lazy, idle, dishonest eye-servants and time-servers from the house and land!

”What's the matter now?” said Capitola, meeting her.

”Oh, child, he's in his terrible tantrums again! He gets into these ways every once in a while, when a young calf perishes, or a sheep is stolen, or anything goes amiss, and then he abuses us all for a pack of loiterers, sluggards and thieves, and pays us off and orders us off. We don't go, of course, because we know he doesn't mean it; still, it is very trying to be talked to so. Oh, I should go, but Lord, child, he's a bear, but we love him.”

Just as she spoke the study door opened and Bill Ezy came out sobbing, and Wool lifting up his voice and fairly roaring.

Mrs. Condiment stepped out of the parlor door.

”What's the matter, you blockhead?” she asked of Wool.

”Oh! boo-hoo-woo! Ole ma.r.s.e been and done and gone and guv me a line to find an--an--another--boo-hoo-woo!” sobbed Wool, ready to break his heart.

”Give you a line to find another boo-hoo-woo! I wouldn't do it, if I were you, Wool,” said Capitola.

”Give me the paper, Wool,” said Mrs. Condiment, taking the ”permit” and tearing it up, and adding:

”There, now, you go home to your quarter, and keep out of your old master's sight until he gets over his anger, and then you know very well that it will be all right. There, go along with you.”

Wool quickly got out of the way and made room for the overseer, who was sniveling like a whipped schoolboy, and to whom the housekeeper said:

”I thought you were wiser than to take this so to heart, Mr. Ezy.”

”Oh, mum, what could you expect? An old sarvint as has sarved the major faithful these forty years, to be discharged at sixty-five! Oh, hoo-ooo-oo!” whimpered the overseer.

”But then you have been discharged so often you ought to be used to it by this time. You get discharged, just as Wool gets sold, about once a month--but do you ever go?”

”Oh, mum, but he's in airnest this time; 'deed he is, mum; terrible in airnest; and all about that misfortnet bobtail colt getting stole. I know how it wur some of Black Donald's gang as done it--as if I could always be on my guard against them devils; and he means it this time, mum; he's terrible in airnest!”

”Tut! he's always in earnest for as long as it lasts; go home to your family and to-morrow go about your business as usual.”

Here the study bell rang violently and Old Hurricane's voice was heard calling, ”Mrs. Condiment! Mrs. Condiment!”

”Oh, Lor', he's coming!” cried Bill Ezy, running off as fast as his age and grief would let him.

”Mrs. Condiment! Mrs. Condiment!” called the voice.

”Yes, sir, yes,” answered the housekeeper, hurrying to obey the call.

Capitola walked up and down the hall for half an hour, at the end of which Mrs. Condiment came out ”with a smile on her lip and a tear in her eye,” and saying:

”Well, Miss Capitola, I'm paid off and discharged also.”

”What for?”

”For aiding and abetting the rebels; in a word, for trying to comfort poor Ezy and Wool.”