“Do you know dis gemmen?” said Aunt Linda to Uncle Daniel, when the latter arrived.

“Well, I can’t say’s I do.  My eyes is gittin dim, an I disremembers him.”

“Now jis’ you look right good at him.  Don’t yer ’member him?”

Uncle Daniel looked puzzled and, slowly scanning Robert’s features, said:  “He do look like somebody I used ter know, but I can’t make him out ter save my life.  I don’t know whar to place him.  Who is de gemmen, ennyhow?”

“Why, Uncle Dan’el,” replied Aunt Linda, “dis is Robby; Miss Nancy’s bad, mischeebous Robby, dat war allers playin’ tricks on me.”

“Well, shore’s I’se born, ef dis ain’t our ole Bobby!” exclaimed Uncle Daniel, delightedly.  “Why, chile, whar did yer come from?  Thought you war dead an’ buried long ’go.”

“Why, Uncle Daniel, did you send anybody to kill me?” asked Robert, laughingly.

“Oh, no’n ‘deed, chile! but I yeard dat you war killed in de battle, an’ I never ’spected ter see you agin.”

“Well, here I am,” replied Robert, “large as life, and just as natural.  And this young lady, Uncle Daniel, I believe is my niece.”  As he spoke he turned to Iola.  “Do you remember my mother?”

“Oh, yes,” said Uncle Daniel, looking intently at Iola as she stepped forward and cordially gave him her hand.

“Well, I firmly believe,” continued Robert, “that this is the daughter of the little girl whom Miss Nancy sold away with my mother.”

“Well, I’se rale glad ter see her.  She puts me mighty much in mine ob dem days wen we war all young togedder; wen Miss Nancy sed, ’Harriet war too high fer her.’  It jis’ seems like yisterday wen I yeard Miss Nancy say, ‘No house could flourish whar dere war two mistresses.’  Well, Mr. Robert—­”

“Oh, no, no, Uncle Daniel,” interrupted Robert, “don’t say that!  Call me Robby or Bob, just as you used to.”

“Well, Bobby, I’se glad klar from de bottom of my heart ter see yer.”

“Even if you wouldn’t go with us when we left?”

“Oh, Bobby, dem war mighty tryin’ times.  You boys didn’t know it, but Marster Robert hab giben me a bag ob money ter take keer ob, an’ I promised him I’d do it an’ I had ter be ez good ez my word.”

“Oh, Uncle Daniel, why didn’t you tell us boys all about it?  We could have helped you take care of it.”

“Now, wouldn’t dat hab bin smart ter let on ter you chaps, an’ hab you huntin’ fer it from Dan ter Barsheba?  I specs some ob you would bin a rootin’ fer it yit!”

“Well, Uncle Daniel, we were young then; I can’t tell what we would have done if we had found it.  But we are older now.”

“Yes, yer older, but I wouldn’t put it pas’ yer eben now, ef yer foun’ out whar it war.”

“Yes,” said Iola, laughing, “they say ’caution is the parent of safety.’”

“Money’s a mighty tempting thing,” said Robert, smiling.

“But, Robby, dere’s nothin’ like a klar conscience; a klar conscience, Robby!”