Part 31 (1/2)

”Oh, she stayed at Rosemont to look after the house.”

”The General tells me his daughter is to be married to Mr. Ravenel in March.”

John gave an inward start, but was silent for a moment. Then he said, absently,

”So that's out, is it?” But a few steps farther on he touched Fair's arm.

”Let's go--slower.” His smile was ashen. ”I--h--I don't know why in the devil I have these sickish feelings come on me at f-funerals.” They stopped. ”Humph! Wha'd' you reckon can be the cause of it--indigestion?”

Mr. Fair thought it very likely, and March said it was pa.s.sing off already.

”Humph! it's ridiculous. Come on, I'm all right now.”

The man behind them pa.s.sed, looked back, stopped and returned.

”Gen'le_men_, sirs, to you. Mr. Mahch, escuse me by pyo accident earwhilin' yo' colloquial terms. I know e'zacly what cause yo' sick transit. Ya.s.s, seh. Tha.s.s the imagination. I've had it, myseff.”

March stopped haughtily, Fair moved out of hearing, and Cornelius spoke low, with a sweet smile. ”Ya.s.s, seh. You see the imagination o' yo' head is evil. You imaginin' somepm what ain't happm yit an' jiss like as not won't happm at all. But tha.s.s not why I seeks to interrup' you at this junction.

”Mr. Mahch, I'm impudize to espress to you in behalfs o' a vas' colo'ed const.i.tuency--but speakin' th'oo a small ban' o' they magnates with me as they sawt o' janizary chairman--that Gen'l Halliday seem to be ti-ud o' us an' done paa.s.s his bes' dotage, an' likewise the groun's an'

debas.e.m.e.nts on an' faw which we be proud to help you depopulate yo'

lan's, ya.s.s, seh, with all conceivable ligislation thereunto.”

”What business is it of yours or your Blackland darkies what I do with my woods?”

”Why, tha.s.s jess it! Wha.s.s n.o.body's business is ev'ybody's business, you know.”

March smiled and moved toward Fair. ”I've no time to talk with you now, Leggett.”

”Oh! no, seh, I knowed you wouldn't have. But bein' the talk' o' the town that you an' this young gen'leman”--dipping low to Fair--”is projeckin' said depopulation I has cawdially engross ow meaju' in writin' faw yo' conjint an' confidential consideration. Ya.s.s, seh, aw in default whereof then to compote it in like manneh to the nex' mos'

interested.”

”And, pray, who is the next most interested in my private property?”

”Why, Majo' Gyarnit, I reck'n--an' Mr. Ravenel, seein' he's the Djuke o'

Suez--p-he!”

March let his hand accept a soiled doc.u.ment, saying, ”Well, he's not Duke of me. Just leave me this. I'll either mail it to you or see you again. Good-by.”

The t.i.tle of the doc.u.ment as indorsed on it was: ”The Suez and Three Counties Transportation, Immigration, Education, Navigation, and Construction Co.”

x.x.xIV.

DAPHNE AND DINWIDDIE: A PASTEL IN PROSE