"'Sammy, all yesterday, when I was a-comin', I was a-studyin' about it, an' I couldn't git it out'n my mind. It come to me agin when I saw Marse Henry las' night, an' I wanted to tell him. But when I got up dis mawnin' an' see myself I knowed I couldn't ask ye, Sammy, an' I didn't. Now I got dese clo'es, it's come to me agin. I kin ask ye now, an' I don't want ye to 'fuse me. I want ye to let me drive my marster's body to de grave.'
"I held out my hand, and for an instant neither of us spoke.
"'Thank ye, Sammy,' was all he said."
Again my companion's voice broke. Then he went on:
"When the carriages formed in line I saw Aleck leaning against the fence, and the undertaker's man was on the hearse. I caught Aleck's eye and beckoned to him.
"'What's the matter, Aleck? Why aren't you on the hearse?'
"'De undertaker man wouldn't let me, Sammy; an' I didn't like to 'sturb you an' de mistis.'
"The tears stood in his eyes.
"'Go find him and bring him to me,' I said.
"When he came I told him the funeral would stop where it was if he didn't carry out my orders.