'Yas, massa, dese am all I'se got.'
'Oh, tank'ou, massa. 'Ou's too good, massa; tank'ou bery much—but 'ou'll leff' me gib dis ter de Squire, massa, 'on't 'ou? I wants ter pay fur Ally.'
'Yes, if he will take it, 'I replied, for I knew that he would not.
The merchant had examined the documents, and Preston had counted the money and put it in his pocket, when, handing the papers to Dinah, the latter said:
'Now, aunty, Ally's free, and I hope he'll prove a good boy, and worthy of such a mother.'
'Oh, he will dat, massa; he'm a good chile; but heah'm ten dollar more massa, it'm de good gemman's, an' he say I kin gib it ter 'on fur Ally.'
Preston laughed: 'I heard what he said. I can't take it, Dinah. You need it to buy some winter clothes. I'll take the risk of what you owe me.'
The shopkeeper then said:
'Take it, Mr. Preston; I'll let Dinah have what she needs out of the store; she knows her credit is good with me.'
'Well,' said Preston, taking the money, 'this makes one hundred and thirty-seven dollars and thirty cents. You need not pay any more—Ally is yours now.'