But, Phillis, gal, I wouldn't say nothin at all about it--we'll have all dese low niggers laughin at us." "What they going to laugh at me about ?" said Phillis.

"I didn't see no ghost." "Well, its all de same," said Bacchus, "they'll laugh at me--and man and wife's one--'taint worth while to say nothin 'bout it, as I see." "I shan't say nothing about it as long as you keep sober; but mind, you go pitching and tumbling about, and I aint under no kind of promise to keep your secret.

And its the blessed truth, they'd laugh, sure enough, at you, if they did know it." And the hint had such a good effect, that after a while, it was reported all over the plantation that Bacchus "had give up drinkin, for good and all.".