brought great scandal on his sable connections, who were gathered more closely around the homestead.  Nevertheless, a death, or a return home, or any important event in the family, was sure to bring even Vulcan back to his allegiance; and, for a month afterwards, he would be a reformed man.  On this occasion he was one of those who were out in the fields and woods in quest of me, and he happened to be the very individual by whom I was discovered.

The awe-struck, solemn manner in which the reckless Vulcan approached, were all other proofs wanting, would have proclaimed the weight of the blow that had fallen on Clawbonny.  The eyes of this fellow were always red, but it was easy to see that even he had been shedding tears.  He knew he was no favourite; seldom came near me, unless it were to excuse some of his neglects or faults, and lived under a sort of ban for his constantly recurring misdeeds.  Nevertheless, a common cause of grief now gave him confidence, and Neb himself could hardly have approached me with a manner of more easy but respectful familiarity.

“Ah!  Masser Mile!  Masser Mile!” Vulcan exclaimed, certain that we felt alike on this topic, if on no other; “poor young missus! when we ebber get ’noder like she!”

“My sister is in heaven, Vulcan, where I hope all at Clawbonny, blacks as well as whites, will endeavour to meet her, by living in a manner that will improve the mercy of God.”

“You t’ink dat posserbul, Masser Mile?” demanded the old man, fixing his dull eyes on me, with an earnest intentness that proved he had not entirely lost all sensibility to his moral condition.

“All things are possible with God, Vulcan.  Keeping him and his commandments constantly in mind, you may still hope to see your young mistress, and to share in her happiness.”

“Wonnerful!” exclaimed the old man; “dat would be a great conserlation.  Ah!  Masser Mile, how often she come when a little lady to my shop door, and ask to see ’e spark fly!  Miss Grace hab a great taste for blacksmit’in’, and a great knowledge too.  I do t’ink, dat next to some oder t’ing, she lub to see iron red-hot, and ’e horse shod!”

“You have come to look for me, Vulcan, and I thank you for this care.  I shall return to the house presently; you need give yourself no further trouble.  Remember, old man, that the only hope that remains of either of us ever seeing Miss Grace again, is in living as Mr. Hardinge so often tells us all we ought to live.”

“Wonnerful!” repeated old Vulcan, whose mind and feelings were in a happy condition to receive such a lesson.  “Yes, sah, Masser Mile; she come to my shop to see ’e spark fly;—­I shall miss her like a darter.”

This was a specimen of the feelings that prevailed among the negroes, though the impression on most of the others was more lasting than that made on the blacksmith, whom I now dismissed, taking the path myself that led to the house.  It was quite dark when I crossed the lawn.  A figure was just visible in the shadows of the piazza, and I was on the point of turning in the direction of a side door, in order to avoid the meeting, when Lucy advanced eagerly to the edge of the steps to receive me.