With a most frightened expression upon his face, he grasped the saddle pommel with both hands, and bending nearly double, gasped out: "Sam ain't much use't to gemman's horses.

Kind of bold me on, mas'r, till I gits de hang of de critter.

He hists me around mightily." So, leading Rocket with one hand, and steadying Sam with the other, Hugh got on but slowly, and 'Lina had looked for him many times ere she spied him from the window as he came up the lawn.
"Who is he, and what did you get him for ?" Mrs.Worthington asked, as Hugh led Sam into the dining-room.
Briefly Hugh explained to her why he had bought the negro.
"It was foolish, I suppose, but I'm not sorry yet," he added, glancing toward the corner where the poor old man was sitting, warming his shriveled hands by the cheerful fire, and muttering to himself blessings on "young mas'r." But for the remembrance of her dress, 'Lina would have stormed, but as it was, she held her peace, and even asked Sam some trivial question concerning his former owners.

Supper had been delayed for Hugh, and as he took his seat at the table, he inquired after Adah.
"Pretty well when I left," said his mother, adding that Lulu had been there since, and reported her as looking pale and worn, while Aunt Eunice seemed worried with Willie, who was inclined to be fretful.
"They need some one," Hugh said, refusing the coffee his mother passed him on the plea that he did not feel like drinking it to-night.

"They need one of the servants.