"Marm." He stopped and half turned.
"What a charming old place you have here!"
George Washington cast his eye up towards the old gentleman in the high-backed chair, as much as to say, "You see there? What did I tell you?" Then he said briefly:
"Yes, 'm."
"What is its extent? How many acres are there in it?"
George Washington positively started. He took in several of the family in his glance of warning.
"Well, I declare, marm, I don't know," he began; then it occurring to him that the honor of the family was somehow at stake and must be upheld, he added, "A leetle mo' 'n a hundred thousan', marm." His exactness was convincing. Miss Jemima threw up her hands:
"Prodigious! How many nee—how many persons of the African blood are there on this vast domain?" she inquired, getting nearer to her point.
George, observing how much she was impressed, eyed her with rising disdain: