"Then it's all right, and Dick Lee'll have a fair shake in the world!" "A what, my son ?" exclaimed his mother.
"I didn't mean to talk slang, mother: I only meant--well, you know how dreadfully black he is; but then, he can steer a boat tiptop, and he's splendid for crabs and bluefish; and Dab says he's a good scholar too." "Dab's a very good boy," said Mrs.Foster; "but your friend Dick will need an outfit, I imagine,--clothing, and almost every thing.

I must see Mrs.Kinzer about it." Meantime Dick Lee's part in the matter, and that of his family, had been taken for granted, all around.

An hour later, however, Mrs.Kinzer's first reply to her son, after listening to a calculation of his, which almost made it seem as if Dick would make money by going to Grantley, was,-- "What if Mrs.Lee should say she can't spare him ?" Dab's countenance fell.

He knew Mrs.Lee, but he had not thought so far as that.
He said something not very intelligible, but to that effect.
"Well, Dabney, if we can make the other arrangements, I'll see her about it." Ham Morris had been exchanging remarkable winks with Miranda and Samantha, and now gravely suggested,-- "Maybe the academy authorities will refuse to take him." "Ford says they had a blacker boy than he is, there, last year." "Now, Dab!" exclaimed Ham.
"Well, I know he's pretty black; but it don't come off." "Mother," said Samantha, "Mrs.Foster and Annie are coming through the gate." Dab waited just long enough after that to learn the news concerning the "Richard Lee Education Fund" and Mr.Foster's offer, and then he was off towards the shore.
He knew very well in which direction it was best to go; and, half way to the landing, he met Dick coming up the road with a basket of eels on his arm.
"Dick," shouted Dabney, "I'm going away to boarding-school, at an academy." "'Cad'my?
Whar ?" "Up in New England.

They call it Grantley Academy,--where Frank and Ford are going." "Dat spiles it all," said Dick ruefully.