I was seated by the bathing-pond, alone, busied with a book, when I heard Jake's familiar voice p.r.o.nouncing my name: "Ma.s.sr George."

"Well, Jake?" I responded, without withdrawing my eyes from the page.

"Ise wanted all da mornin to git you 'lone by ya.r.s.elf; Ise want to hab a leetle bit ob a convasayshun, Ma.s.sr George."

The solemn tone, so unusual in the voice of Jake, awoke my attention.

Mechanically closing the book, I looked up in his face: it was solemn as his speech.

"A conversation with me, Jake?"

"Ye, ma.s.sr--dat am if you isn't ingage?"

"Oh, by no means, Jake. Go on: let me hear what you have to say."

"Poor fellow!" thought I--"he has his sorrows too. Some complaint about Viola. The wicked coquette is torturing him with jealousy; but what can I do? I cannot _make_ her love him--no. 'One man may lead a horse to the water, but forty can't make him drink.' No; the little jade will act as she pleases in spite of any remonstrance on my part. Well, Jake?"

"Wa, Ma.s.sr George, I doant meself like to intafere in tha 'fairs ob da family--daat I doant; but ye see, ma.s.sr, things am a gwine all wrong-- all wrong, by golly!"

"In what respect?"

"Ah, ma.s.sr, dat young lady--dat young lady."

Polite of Jake to call Viola a young lady.

"You think she is deceiving you?"

"More dan me, Ma.s.sr George--more dan me."

"What a wicked girl! But perhaps, Jake, you only fancy these things?

Have you had any proofs of her being unfaithful? Is there any one in particular who is now paying her attentions?"

"Yes, ma.s.sr; berry partickler--nebber so partickler before--nebber."

"A white man?"

"Gorramighty, Ma.s.sr George!" exclaimed Jake in a tone of surprise; "you do talk kewrious: ob coorse it am a white man. No odder dan a white man dar shew 'tention to tha young lady."

I could not help smiling. Considering Jake's own complexion, he appeared to hold very exalted views of the unapproachableness of his charmer by those of her own race. I had once heard him boast that he was the "only man ob colour dat could shine _thar_." It was a white man, then, who was making his misery.

"Who is he, Jake?" I inquired.

"Ah, ma.s.sr, he am dat ar villain debbil, Arens Ringgol!"

"What! Arens Ringgold?--he making love to Viola!"

"Viola! Gorramighty, Ma.s.sr George!" exclaimed the black, staring till his eyes shewed only the whites--"Viola! Gorramighty, I nebber say Viola!--nebber!"

"Of whom, then, are you speaking?"

"O ma.s.sr, did I not say da young lady? dat am tha young Missa--Missa Vaginny."

"Oh! my sister you mean. Poh, poh! Jake. That is an old story. Arens Ringgold has been paying his addresses to my sister for many years; but with no chance of success. You needn't trouble yourself about that, my faithful friend; there is no danger of their getting married. She doesn't like him, Jake--I wonder who does or could--and even if she did, I would not permit it. But there's no fear, so you may make your mind easy on that score."

My harangue seemed not to satisfy the black. He stood scratching his head, as if he had something more to communicate. I waited for him to speak.

"'Scoose me, Ma.s.sr George, for da freedom, but dar you make mighty big mistake. It am true dar war a time when Missa Vaginny she no care for dat ar snake in da gra.s.s. But de times am change: him father--da ole thief--he am gone to tha udda world? tha young un he now rich--he big planter--tha biggest on da ribber: ole missa she 'courage him come see Missa Vaginny--'cause he rich, he good spec."

"I know all that, Jake: my mother always wished it; but that signifies nothing--my sister is a little self-willed, and will be certain to have her own way. There is no fear of her giving her consent to marry, Arens Ringgold."

"'Scoose me, Ma.s.sr George, scoose me 'gain--I tell you, ma.s.sr, you make mistake: she a'most consent now."

"Why, what has put this notion into your head, my good fellow?"

"Viola, ma.s.sr. Dat ere quadroon tell me all."

"So, you are friends with Viola again?"

"Ye, Ma.s.sr George, we good friend as ebber. 'Twar only my s'picion--I wor wrong. She good gal--she true as de rifle. No more s'picion o'

her, on de part ob Jake--no."

"I am glad of that. But pray, what has she told you about Arens Ringgold and my sister?"

"She tell me all: she see somethin' ebbery day."

"Every day! Why, it is many days since Arens Ringgold has visited here?"

"No, ma.s.sr; dar you am mistake 'gain: Ma.s.s Arens he come to da house ebbery day--a'most ebbery day."

"Nonsense; I never saw him here. I never heard of his having been, since my return from the fort."

"But him hab been, for all dat, ma.s.sr; I see him meseff. He come when you gone out. He be here when we goes a huntin'. I see um come yest'day, when you any Ma.s.s Garger wor away to tha volunteers--dat he war sat'n."

"You astonish me."

"Dat's not all, ma.s.sr. Viola she say dat Missa Vaginny she 'have different from what she used to: he talk love; she not angry no more; she listen to him talk. Oh, Ma.s.sr George, Viola think she give her consent to marry him: dat would be dreadful thing--berry, berry dreadful."

"Jake," said I, "listen to me. You will stay by the house when I am absent. You will take note of every one who comes and goes; and whenever Arens Ringgold makes his appearance on a visit to the family, you will come for me as fast as horse can carry you."

"Gollys! dat I will, Ma.s.sr George: you nebber fear, I come fa.s.s enuff-- like a streak ob de greased lightnin'."

And with this promise the black left me.

With all my disposition to be incredulous, I could not disregard the information thus imparted to me. Beyond doubt, there was truth in it.

The black was too faithful to think of deceiving me, and too astute to be himself deceived. Viola had rare opportunities for observing all that pa.s.sed within our family circle; and what motive could she have for inventing a tale like this?

Besides Jake had himself seen Ringgold on visits--of which _I_ had never been informed. This confirmed the other--confirmed all.