CHAPTER XIV. AUNT NESBIT'S LOSS.

ttysure,bythistime.Sakesalive,we'susedtolookingoutfortheweatherandweknowsprettywellwhat'scoming.Andnow,MissNina,yougorightalongandgivehimagoodword,'causeyousee,dearlamb,youneedagood,husbandtotakecareofyou,—dat'swhatyouwant,chile.Girlslikeyouhasahardlifebeingattheheadofaplace,especiallyyourbrotherbeingjustwhatheis.Now,ifyouhadahusbandhere,Mas'rTom'udbequiet,'causeheknowshecouldn'tdonothing.Butjustaslongasyou'salonehe'llplagueyou.But,now,chile,it'stimeforyoutobegettingreadyfordinner." "Oh,but,doyouknow,Milly,"saidNina,"I'vesomethingtotellyou,whichIhadlikedtohaveforgotten!IhavebeenouttotheBellevilleplantation,andboughtHarry'swife." "Youhas,MissNina!Why,deLordblessyou!Why,Harrywasdreadfulworked,disyermorning,'boutwhatMas'rTomsaid.'Pearedlikehewasmostcrazy." "Well,"saidNina,"I'vedoneit.I'vegotthereceipthere." "Why,but,chile,wherealivedidyougetallthemoneytopayrightsuddenso?" "Mr.Claytonlentittome,"saidNina. "Mr.Clayton!Now,chile,didn'tItellyouso?Doyousuppose,now,you'dalethimlendyoudatarmoneyifyouhadn'tlikedhim?But,come,chile,hurry!Dere'sMas'rTomanddatothergen'lemancomingback,andyoumustbedowntodinner." Thecompanyassembledatthedinner-tablewasnotparticularlyenlivening.TomGordon,who,inthecourseofhismorningride,haddiscoveredthemarchwhichhissisterhadstolenuponhim,wasmoresulkyandirritablethanusual,thoughtooproudtomakeanyallusiontothesubject.NinawasannoyedbythepresenceofMr.Jekyl,whomherbrotherinsistedshouldremaintodinner.AuntNesbitwasuncommonlydoleful,ofcourse.Clayton,who,inmixedsociety,generallytookthepartofalistenerratherthanatalker,saidverylittleandhaditnotbeenforCarson,there'snosayingwhetheranyofthecompanycouldhavespoken.Everykindofcreaturehasitsuses,andtherearetimeswhenalively,unthinkingchatterboxisaperfectgodsend.Thoseunperceivingpeople,whonevernoticetheembarrassmentofothers,andwhowalkwiththegreatestfacilityintothegapsofconversation,simplybecausetheyhavenoperceptionofanydifficultythere,havetheirhourandNinafeltpositivelygratefultoMr.Carsonforthecontinuousandcheerfulrattlewhichhadsoannoyedherthedaybefore.Carsondroveabrisktalkwiththelawyeraboutthevalueofproperty,percentage,etc.hesympathizedwithAuntNesbitonherlast-caughtcoldralliedTomonhispreoccupationcomplimentedNinaonherimprovedcolorfromherrideandseemedonsuchexcellenttermsbothwithhimselfandeverybodyelse,thatthethingwasreallyinfectious. "Whatdoyoucallyourbestinvestments,downhere,—land,eh?"hesaidtoMr.Jekyl. Mr.Jekylshookhishead. "Landdeterioratestoofast.Besides,there'sallthetroubleandriskofoverseers,andallthat.I'velookedthisthingoverprettywell,andIalwaysinvestinniggers." "Ah!"saidMr.Carson,"youdo?" "Yes,sir,Iinvestinniggersthat'swhatIdoandIhirethemout,sir,—hirethemout.Why,sir,ifamanhasaknowledgeofhumannature,knowswheretobuyandwhentobuy,andwatcheshisopportunity,hegetsabetterpercentageonhismoneythatwaythananyother.Now,thatwaswhatIwastellingMrs.Nesbit,thismorning.Say,now,thatyougiveonethousanddollarsforaman,—andIalwaysbuythebestsort,that'seconomy,—well,andhegets—putitatthelowestfigure—tendollarsamonthwages,andhisliving.Well,youseethere,thatgivesyouaprettyhandsomesumforyourmoney.Ihaveagoodtalentofbuying.Igenerallyprefermechanic