"You am my chile; I loves you better dan Massa Davy—better dan all de worle."
The scene, had they not been black, would have been one for a painter.
"You were the Colonel's nurse, Aunty," I said, when she had regained her composure. "Have you always lived with him?"
"Yas, sar, allers; I nussed him, and den de chil'ren—all ob 'em."
"All the children? I thought the Colonel had but one—Miss Clara."
"Wal, he habn't, massa, only de boys."
"What boys? I never heard he had sons."
"Neber heerd of young Massa Davy, nor Massa Tommy! Haint you seed Massa Tommy, sar?"
"Tommy! I was told he was Madam P——'s son."
"So he am; Massa Davy had her long afore he had missus."