"Will you speak to her, young Master, and reconcile her to her situation?"
"Yes, I will do all I can."
"And now I will go and stay with the corpse of dear Aunt Polly;" here I found it impossible to restrain my tears, and, convulsed with emotion, I seated myself upon the ground with my back against the door of the lock-up.
"Dead? dead? Aunt Polly dead?" he asked in a bewildered tone.
"Yes, young Master, I found her dead, and with every appearance of having had a severe struggle."
I then told him about the leeching process, how the doctor had acted, &c.
"Murdered! She was most cruelly murdered!" he murmured to himself.
In the excitement of conversation he had elevated his tone a good deal, and the fearful news reached the ears of Lindy, and she shrieked out,
"Is Aunt Polly dead? Oh, tell me, for I thinks I sees her sperit now."
Then such entreaties as she made to get out were agonizing to hear.