Dido threw up one dark hand with an ejaculation.

"Not in de sunlight; dose am de names for de darkness, honey. In de night dey--"

"No, no!" cried Isabella, with a shudder. "Don't tell me any more of those horrible things."

"Aha, dat de yaller-ha'r who makes you fear!" cried Dido, bitterly. "He hate Obi an' me. He will not marry you, missy!"

"Yes he will; we are engaged."

"Your mudder, she say no!"

"Nonsense! She likes Maurice herself," replied Isabella, uneasily. "Maurice wants our engagement kept quiet for the present, but when I do tell Major Jen and my mother, I am sure neither of them will object."

"H'm, we see, missy, we see," said Dido, darkly. "But why you marry dis man I no like?"

"Because I marry to please myself, not you," said Isabella, sharply. "Oh, I know your thoughts, Dido; you would like me to marry David Sarby. The idea; as if he can compare with Maurice!"

"Wrong, missy. I no wish dat man."

"Then Dr. Etwald--that horrid, gloomy creature!"

"Him great man!" said Dido, solemnly. "Him berry--berry great!"

"I don't think so," retorted Isabella, rising. "Of course, I know that he is clever, but as to being great, he isn't known beyond this place." She walked to the end of the veranda, and stood for a moment in the glare of the sunshine. Suddenly an idea seemed to strike her, and she turned toward the negress.

"Dido, you wouldn't like to see me the wife of Dr. Etwald?"

"Yes, missy. Him berry big great man!"

"But I hate him!"

"Um! He lub you. He told ole Dido so."

"He seems to have been very confidential," said Isabella, scornfully, "and from what I have seen, Dido, he has some influence over you."

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