"Yes, massa, please God! I'll give you all of it—but, it's only pork and hominy." 

 "Very good; and it will be all the sweeter because I am welcome." 

 "'Deed massa, and you is welcome, five hundred times over! But it was a downright shame for all de white folks to go off so. I never seed such people." 

 "Never mind, Nancy, don't trouble yourself; I shall be well enough taken care of. I'll trust to you for that." 

 And so Mr. Odell mounted his horse, and accompanied the old woman home. She lived rather over a mile from the meeting-house—and the way was past the comfortable residence of Mr. Martin. The latter did not feel altogether satisfied with himself as he rode home. He was not certain that the preacher had stayed at sister Russell's the night before. He might have ridden over from S— since morning. This suggestion caused him to feel rather more uneasy in mind; for, if this were the case, it was doubtful whether, after class was over, there would be any one to invite him home. 

 "What kind of a man is the new preacher?" asked Mrs. Martin of her husband, on his return from meeting. 

 "He seemed like a very good sort of man," replied Martin, indifferently. 

 "Is he young or old?" 

 "He's about my age, I should think." 

 "Married?" 

 "I'm sure I don't know." 

 "Did you speak to him?" 

 "No, I came away after the sermon." 

 "Then you didn't stop to class?" 

 "No." 

 "Sister Russell was not there, of course?" 

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