_Mr. P._ Oh, no; only it’s a long ways down to Natchez, and I thought I’d just buy five or six niggers, and take ’em down and sell ’em to pay my travellin’ expenses. I only want to clear my way.
_Scene 3._—SITTING-ROOM—TABLE AND ROCKING-CHAIR.
_Enter MRS. GAINES, R., followed by SAMPEY._
_Mrs. Gaines._ I do wish your master would come; I want supper. Run to the gate, Sampey, and see if he is coming.
That man is enough to break my heart. The patience of an angel could not stand it.
[_The Doctor walks about with his hands under his coat, seeming very much elated._
_Mrs. Gaines._ Why, doctor, what is the matter?
_Dr. Gaines._ My dear, don’t call me _doctor_.
_Dr. G._ Call me Colonel, my dear—Colonel. I have been elected Colonel of the Militia, and I want you to call me by my right name. I always felt that Providence had designed me for something great, and He has just begun to shower His blessings upon me.
_Mrs. G._ Dear me, I could never get to calling you Colonel; I’ve called you Doctor for the last twenty years.
_Dr. G._ Now, Sarah, if you will call me Colonel, other people will, and I want you to set the example. Come, my darling, call me Colonel, and I’ll give you any thing you wish for.
_Mrs. G._ Well, as I want a new gold watch and bracelets, I’ll commence now. Come, Colonel, we’ll go to supper. Ah! now for my new shawl. [_Aside._] Mrs. Lemme was here to-day, Colonel, and she had on, Colonel, one of the prettiest shawls, Colonel, I think, Colonel, that I ever saw, Colonel, in my life, Colonel. And there is only one, Colonel, in Mr. Watson’s store, Colonel; and that, Colonel, will do, Colonel, for a Colonel’s wife.
_Dr. G._ Ah! my dear, you never looked so much the lady since I’ve known you. Go, my darling, get the watch, bracelets and shawl, and tell them to charge them to Colonel Gaines; and when you say “Colonel,” always emphasize the word.
_Mrs. G._ Come, Colonel, let’s go to supper.
_Dr. G._ My dear, you’re a jewel,—you are!
_Cato._ Why, whar is massa and missis? I tought dey was here. Ah! by golly, yonder comes a mulatter gal. Yes, it’s Mrs. Jones’s Tapioca. I’ll set up to dat gal, dat I will.
Good ebenin’, Miss Tappy. How is your folks?
_Cato._ Miss Tappy, dis wanderin’ heart of mine is yours. Come, take a seat! Please to squze my manners; love discommodes me. Take a seat. Now, Miss Tappy, I loves you; an ef you will jess marry me, I’ll make you a happy husband, dat I will. Come, take me as I is.