"Trufe, brudder! dat's me jes'! I'se de wretch! an' I wish how dis same wretch might hab de feber long o' de oder two, an' how I might die long of 'em, and how we might all go up to Marster's trone, and have de case 'cided whose wife dis 'ooman is for to be."
"Governor! What! do you mean to say that the new overseer is tampering with your wife's fidelity to you?"
"Hish-sh! he ain't fur off. Dunno what de debbil you mean wid your big words. But she lub fine dress, an' he gib it to her; she berry putty, mos' white, you know, an' he sen' me way off to de furres' fiel' to work."
"Why don't you talk to her?"
"'Taint no use; she 'ny eberyting."
"Why don't you speak to your master?"
"'Tain't no use; he won't nebber hear no 'plaints gin de oberseer."
"I am very sorry for you, poor fellow; and I would like to give you comfort and counsel, but I must hurry away from you, and try to get leave to go to town, and see poor dear Fannie. If I were you, Governor, I would speak to Major Hewitt upon this subject. He never would permit such a wrong done you."
"'Taint no use, I tell yer! But nebber min', Walley, listen yer; some ob dese yere days I fixes him!"
Valentine started at the demoniac look that, in a man usually so mild, accompanied these vague words; and, bidding the negro a hasty good-morning, he ran along the lane until he reached the house.