"Master, I ax your pardon." He stepped back and paused, seeming to swallow some words in his throat before he spoke again. "You're a long way more of a man than ever I gave 'ee credit to be. Twelve year I passed in your service, too; an' I take ye to witness that 'twas Cai Tamblyn an' not Scipio Johnson that knawed 'ee agen, for all the change in your faytures. Whereby you misjudged us, sir, when you left me fifty pound and that nigger a hundred an' fifty. Whereby I misjudged ye in turn, an' I ax your pardon."
"No, Cai; you judged me truly enough, if severely. There was a time when I'd have fed myself on those praises that now sicken me."
"An' you was happy in them days."
"Yes, happy enough."
"Would you have 'em back, master?"
"Would I have them back?" The Major straightened himself up and stood for a moment staring out of the window. "No, Cai," he said resolutely, squaring his chin; "not for worlds."
"There's one little bit of it, sir, you got to have back," said Cai; "an' that's my fifty pound."
"Nonsense, man. I sha'n't hear of it."
"I've a-talked it over wi' the woman, an' she's agreeable. She says 'tis the only right an' proper thing to be done."
"She may be as agreeable as—as you deserve, Cai; but I tell you I don't touch a penny of it. And you may have formed your own opinion of me during twelve years of service, but in all that time I don't think you ever knew me go back on my word."