But Alice could not remain in quietness at Mosside, and early the next morning she rode down to Spring Bank, where the negroes greeted her with loud cries of welcome, asking her numberless questions as to what they were to do, and who would go after "Massah Hugh." It seemed to be the prevailing opinion that he must come home, and Alice thought so, too.
"What do you think, Uncle Sam ?" she asked, turning to the old man, who replied: "I thinks a heap of things, and if Miss Ellis comes dis way where so many can't be listen in', I tella her my mind." Alice followed him to a respectable distance from the others, and sitting down upon a chair standing there, waited for Sam to begin.
Twirling his old straw hat awkwardly for a moment, he stammered out: "What for did Massah Hugh jine de army ?" "Because he thought it his duty," was Alice's reply, and Sam continued: "Yes, but dar is anodder reason.

'Scuse me, miss, but I can't keep still an' see it all agwine wrong.

'Seuse me 'gin, miss, but is you ever gwine to hev that chap what comed here oncet a sparkin'-- Massah Irving, I means ?" Alice's blue eyes turned inquiringly upon him, as she replied: "Never, Uncle Sam.

I never intended to marry him.

Why do you ask ?" "'Cause, miss, when a young gal lets her head lay spang on a fellow's buzzum, and he a kissin' her, it looks mighty like somethin'.