"You are a modest little puss," said Mr. Middleton. "But do you give up
everything so quietly to Julia?"
Fanny answered somewhat sadly, "I've nothing to give."
Here Mr. Miller joined them, and said it was time to make preparations for
returning' home. Accordingly in a short time the company were dispersing.
When our party reached Mrs. Crane's, Fanny went directly to Julia, whom
she found most becomingly dressed, and apparently anxiously awaiting her
return.
That excellent young lady had heard from Mrs. Carrington of the strangers'
visit, and she was impatient to know who they were and had dispatched a
negro girl to reconnoiter and report. The girl soon came back, her eyes
projecting like coffee saucers, and the little braided tags of her hair
seemingly standing upright.
"Oh, Miss Julia!" said she, "that ar' tall, black man--no, I ax yer pardon,
miss--that ar' tall, yaller man, done shook hands 'long of Miss Fanny, who
kissed him, and called him Uncle William. She said how he done been with
the Injuns."
"Her Uncle William!" repeated Julia, in amazement. "And who is the other
man? His son?"
"Yes, reckon so," said the negro. "They done call him Mr. Camel, or
Camlet, or suthin. I tell you he's han'some; and I reckon he's tuk with
Miss Fanny. Jiminy hoecake! Ain't she pooty? She looked a heap han'somer
than you--no, I don't mean so--I axes pardon agin." And the negro bobbed out
of the door just in time to dodge a ball of soap which Julia hurled at her
head.
"It's no use fretting so," said Mrs. Carrington, who was present. "The
young man is married, for he spoke of his wife."
Julia did not answer, and Mrs. Carrington soon after left the room. When
she was gone, Julia muttered to herself, "Uncle William, from the Indies;
rich as Croesus, of course. What a fool I was not to go to the party. Most
likely Fanny has won his good graces by this time. However, I'll dress
myself and surprise him with my beauty, if nothing else."
Accordingly, the next hour was spent in decorating her person, and when
Fanny came for her she was ready to make an assault upon the good opinion
of her rich uncle. Not a thing was out of place, from the shining braids
of her dark hair to the tiny slipper on her delicate foot.
Fanny's first exclamation on entering the room was, "How beautiful you
look, Julia! It is exceedingly fortunate that you are dressed so
becomingly; for, will you believe it, Uncle William is down stairs!"