“Lean on me, if it hurts you to walk,” he said affectionately.
I pressed close to the dear old fellow, and as we sauntered along, we gossiped.
“I can’t tell you,” I said, “what a pleasure it is to have Beanie here.”
“He had a great time down South,” said Gringo, “but he was glad to get back to little old New York.”
“Strange to say, I’ve been on that big estate he visited,” I said, “used to be an old plantation that belonged to one of the F. F. V.’s.”
“Who are they?” asked Gringo.
“First Families of Virginia—Ellen’s sister was a mammy on the place.”
“Ellen’s going to stay with you, I guess,” said Gringo.
“Is that so?” I said. “Why, she’s only supposed to be visiting.”
“I know, but I heard your master tell my boss that he is pleased to have a Southern mammy for young George. She has ideas about flowers and animals that your boss likes.”