"Caesar," she commenced, with a smile, "you are now to learn that your
young mistress, Miss Sarah, is to be united to Colonel Wellmere
this evening."
"I t'ink I see him afore," said Caesar, chuckling. "Old black man can
tell when a young lady make up he mind."
"Really, Caesar, I find I have never given you credit for half the
observation that you deserve; but as you already know on what emergency
your services are required, listen to the directions of this gentleman,
and observe them."
The black turned in quiet submission to the surgeon, who commenced as
follows:--
"Caesar, your mistress has already acquainted you with the important
event about to be solemnized within this habitation; but a cincture or
ring is wanting to encircle the finger of the bride; a custom derived
from the ancients, and which has been continued in the marriage forms of
several branches of the Christian church, and which is even, by a
species of typical wedlock, used in the installation of prelates, as you
doubtless understand."
"P'r'aps Massa Doctor will say him over ag'in," interrupted the old
negro, whose memory began to fail him, just as the other made so
confident an allusion to his powers of comprehension. "I t'ink I get him
by heart dis time."
"It is impossible to gather honey from a rock, Caesar, and therefore I
will abridge the little I have to say.
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