"A week, love, and then--" said Reynolds, pausing to look fondly down into her eyes.
"And then you will come back to me," she quickly replied, "I know you will, and I shall wait for you and think of you every minute of the time."
"Oh, you must not worry about me, or be impatient. The days will soon slip by. Take good care of yourself and----"
"You are the one who needs that advice," she urged, "for your wound is not entirely well, you know. Do be very, very careful, for, for--you are very dear to somebody now!"
He would have kissed her then, but Uncle Mono very unopportunely made his appearance around the corner of the veranda. Mono was old and wise. He knew that the departure of a guest from the house was the golden moment for a servant possessing his liberal opportunities. The lifting force of emancipation from slavery had not raised his pride above the level of those tricks which, in his days of bondage, had served to soothe his palm with pieces of silver, and even of gold sometimes, tossed from the lavish, careless hands of visitors whom he had waited upon. He came shambling along with his old hat in his hand, bowing very low and grinning the grin of the trickster who is sure that his trick must win. As he came near he said:
"Berry sorry yo' gwine away, boss, berry sorry. Hope yo' not fo'get ole Mono when yo' done gone. 'Cessful journey to yo', boss."
"Thank you, Uncle Mono, I can never forget you. Did you ever play base-ball, Mono?" said Reynolds.
"Nah, sah, do'n know nuffin' 'bout dat," answered the old man, shaking his head and executing some ludicrous grimaces. "I nebber plays nuffin' 'cep'n' de fiddle an' de banjer, an' I'se gettin' so ole an' 'flicted dat I can't play dem to no good. Old Mono mos' run he ye'thly co'se, boss."
"You're not springy and active, then, Mono. You've lost the use of yourself pretty nearly, I suppose?"
"Dat's it, boss, dat's it. Ole man all cripple up wid 'fliction an' ole age. No 'count any mo'. He done los' all he sperit."
"Well, Mono," said Reynolds very gravely, taking some pieces of money from his pocket, "if you'll catch this dollar when I throw it to you, I'll give you another."
"No, no," exclaimed Reynolds, laughing, "I'll not have that! Put down your hat and use your hands. Now, here it comes."