"I wants to make yo' flesh creep," replied the boy. This sounded like a very blood-thirsty method of showing one's gratitude and so the old lady was as much frightened as before. "What do you think I saw in this very arbor last night?" inquired the boy.
"Mercies, what?" screamed the old lady, alarmed at the mysterious manner of the corpulent youth.
"A strange gentleman as had his arm around her, a kissin' and huggin'."
"Who, Joe, who? None of the servants, I hope?"
"Worser than that," roared the fat boy in the old lady's ear.
"None of my granddaughters."
"Worser than that," said Joe.
"Worse than that?" said the old lady, who had thought this the extreme limit. "Who was it, Joe? I insist upon knowing!"
The fat boy looked cautiously about and having finished his survey shouted in the old lady's ear, "Miss Rachel!"
"What?" said the old lady in a shrill tone, "speak louder!"