More relieved at finding the old servant still near his master than
caring to comprehend the reason, Hathaway said pleasantly, "Well,
George, is this the way you look after your family?"

The old man started; for an instant his full red lips seemed to
become dry and ashen, the whites of his eyes were suffused and
staring, as he met Paul's smiling face in the glass. But almost as
quickly he recovered himself, and, with a polite but deprecating
bow, said,--"For God sake, sah! I admit de sarkumstances is agin
me, but de simple fack is dat I'm temper'ly occupyin' de place of
an ole frien', sah, who is called round de cornah."

"And I'm devilish glad of any fact, George, that gives me a chance
of having my hair cut by Colonel Pendleton's right-hand man. So
fire away!"

The gratified smile which now suddenly overspread the whole of the
old man's face, and seemed to quickly stiffen the rugged and
wrinkled fingers that had at first trembled in drawing a pair of
shears from a ragged pocket, appeared to satisfy Paul's curiosity
for the present. But after a few moments' silent snipping, during
which he could detect in the mirror some traces of agitation still
twitching the negro's face, he said with an air of conviction:--

"Look here, George--why don't you regularly use your leisure
moments in this trade? You'd make your fortune by your taste and
skill at it."

For the next half minute the old man's frame shook with silent