“'Your young master?' the young lady said—sweet voice, too; dev'lish handsome girl—'your young master?' Then she said aside to the others, 'Isn't it charmingly interesting?'
“'Yes, 'm, I call him so. But really I'm only his'n a fif'.'
“'His fif?' the young lady said, looking puzzled. I stepped up to them to explain, just for politeness, though I was sure that they weren't customers, 'She means that he owned a fifth interest in her previous to—the recent change in affairs.'
“'That's hit,' said Mammy, nodding to them. 'But I don't expect to hear from the other fif's. It don't make much diffunce, howsomever, bein' ez how the Bureau is gwine settle up.'
“The visitors evidently did not understand this. I explained what Mammy was after—you had told me, you know. They were very much amused, and asked a heap of questions. After a little talk between themselves, in which I could not help seeing that the young lady was very earnest, the gentleman asked:
“'Is the work for sale?' Was it for sale!”
My friend nearly prostrated me with a hearty punch by way of expressing his feelings, whilst I was choking for an answer.
“Well, sir, I gave him the figger. He bought so quick that it made me sick I hadn't asked more. Looker here!”
He displayed two new greenbacks which covered the amount. We embraced.
At last Mammy had become a source of revenue. I must, in justice to myself, record the fact that a resolve immediately took form in my mind that she also should be a beneficiary of my good fortune.