"Do not pay any attention to your master, Eliza, and do not be so suspicious of every one. It is all right. Uncle Simon had Manette over, because he thought the service would do her good."
"Yes'm, I 'low she's one o' de young lambs dat he gone out in de col' to fotch in. Well, he tek'n' moughty good keer o' dat lamb."
Mrs. Marston was compelled to laugh in spite of herself. But when Eliza was gone, she turned to her husband, and said:
"George, dear, do you really think there is anything in it?"
"I thoroughly agree with you, Mrs. Marston, in the opinion that Uncle Simon needed rest, and I may add on my own behalf, recreation."
All doubts, however, were soon dispelled. The afternoon sun drove Mr. Marston to the back veranda where he was sitting when Uncle Simon again approached and greeted him.
"Well, Uncle Simon, I hear that you're back in your pulpit again?"
"Yes, suh, I's done 'sumed my labohs in de Mastah's vineya'd."'
"Well, I ain' ezzackly been restin'," said the aged man, scratching his head. "I's been pu'su'in' othah 'ployments."
"Oh, yes, but change of work is rest. And how's the rheumatism, now, any better?"
"Bettah? Why, Mawse Gawge, I ain' got a smidgeon of hit. I's jes' limpin' a leetle bit on 'count o' habit."
"Well, it's good if one can get well, even if his days are nearly spent."
"Heish, Mas' Gawge. I ain' t'inkin' 'bout dyin'."
"Aren't you ready yet, in all these years?"
"I hope I's ready, but I hope to be spaihed a good many yeahs yit."
"Yes, suh; yes, suh. Fac' is, Mawse Gawge, I jes' hop up to ax you some'p'n."
"I want to ax you--I want to ax you--er--er--I want--"
"Oh, speak out. I haven't time to be bothering here all day."
"Well, you know, Mawse Gawge, some o' us ain' nigh ez ol' ez dey looks."
"That's true. A person, now, would take you for ninety, and to my positive knowledge, you're not more than eighty-five."
"I'm not flattering you, that's the truth."
"Well, now, Mawse Gawge, couldn' you mek me' look lak eighty-fo', an' be a little youngah?"
"Why, what do you want to be younger for?"
"You see, hit's jes' lak dis, Mawse Gawge. I come up hyeah to ax you--I want--dat is--me an' Manette, we wants to git ma'ied."
"Get married!" thundered Marston. "What you, you old scarecrow, with one foot in the grave!"