"But there, Aunt Elfrida. Go to her! I will walk on the porch for a while."
Le's appearance on the porch was the signal for such a reception, or, rather, such an ovation, as could only be seen on a Southern plantation, and upon some such occasion as the present.
The news of the young midshipman's return--or "the young master's," as they chose to call him, in view of his relations, present and prospective, to the family of Mondreer--had spread far and wide among the negroes, and they came flocking up, men, women and children, to shake hands with him and welcome him home.
Some of the elder negroes, with "itching palms," belabored him with begging questions of--
"Wot yer got fur yer ole Aunt Mole, honey?"
"Wot yer done home f'om furrin' parts fur yer ole Uncle Bob?"
Le promised one and all a present as soon as ever his sea chest should arrive.
And yet they might have stayed there all day but for the opportune appearance of Aunt Lucy on the scene.
She had watched from an upper window the gathering of the crowd, and now she swooped down upon them.
"Shame o' yerselbes!" she said. "Come yere bodderin' the young marse fust minute as eber he get in de house! Whar's yer manners?"
"Don't scold them, Aunt Lucy," pleaded Le. "They came to welcome me home."
"Dey come to beg, dat's wot dey come for--to beg. It's a habit dey gibs deirselves," said the unrelenting Lucy.
"It is a habit they cannot indulge in more than once in three years, where I am concerned. I do not come home every day."
"An' a werry good fing, too, for it's a werry bad habit."
"No, sah. Dem niggahs is a werry bad habit as oughtn't to be 'dulged in once--no, not once. Now cl'ar out wid yer all, an' go 'bout yer work."
This order was addressed to the negroes, who, overawed by the authority of the chief house servant, began to steal away from the house.
Le was still walking up and down on the porch, when Mr. Force rode up, followed by his mounted groom.
He did not see Le, who was partly shaded by the bare tangle of the climbing rose vines on the trelliswork.
He threw himself out of his saddle, threw his bridle to his groom, and came up the steps.
"Ho, my boy!" he shouted, as he caught sight of the youth. "Is that you, really? Welcome! welcome! I am delighted to see you!"