'Mighty good brandy that,' at last said the woman. 'Ye like brandy, don't ye?'
'Not very much, madam. I take it to-night because I've been exposed to the storm, and it stimulates the circulation. But Scip, here, don't like spirits. He'll get the rheumatism because he don't.'
'Don't like dem sort of sperits, massa; but rumatics neber trubble me.'
'But I've got it mighty bad,' said the woman, 'and I take 'em whenever I kin get 'em.'
I rather thought she did, but I 'reckoned' her principal beverage was whisky.
'You have the rheumatism, madam, because your house is so open; a draught of air is always unhealthy.'
'I allers reckoned 'twar healthy,' she replied. 'Ye Yankee folks have quar notions.'
I looked at my watch, and found it was nearly ten o'clock, and, feeling very tired, said to the hostess,—
'Where do you mean we shall sleep?'
'Ye can take that ar bed,' pointing to the one nearest the wall, 'the darky can sleep har;' motioning to the settle on which she was seated.