andbeyondthelevelofyellowingtulesappearedthefringedandraisedbanksoftheriver。Halftropicallookingcottageswithdeepverandas——thehomesofearlySouthernpioneers——tooktheplaceofincompleteblocksofmodernhouses，monotonouslyalike。InthesesylvansurroundingsMr。Hamlin\'spicturesquerusticitylookedlessincongruousandmoreArcadian；theyounggirlhadlostsomeofherrestraintwithherconfidences，andloungingtogethersidebyside，withouttheleastconsciousnessofanysentimentintheirwordsoractions，theyneverthelesscontrivedtoimpressthespectatorwiththeideathattheywereacharmingpairofpastorallovers。Sostrongwasthisimpressionthat，astheyapproachedAuntChloe\'slaundry，aprettyrose-coveredcottagewithanenormouswhitewashedbarn-likeextensionintherear，theblackproprietressherself，standingatthedoor，calledherhusbandtocomeandlookatthem，andflashedherwhiteteethinsuchunqualifiedcommendationandpatronagethatMr。Hamlin，withdrawinghimselffromSophy\'sside，instantlychargeddownuponthem。
\"Ifyoudon\'tslidethelidbackoverthatgrinningboxofdominoesofyoursandtakeitinside，I\'lljustcarryHannibaloffwithme，\"
hesaidinaquickwhisper，withahalf-wicked，half-mischievousglitterinhisbrowneyes。\"Thatyounglady\'s——ALADY——doyouunderstand？Noriffrafffriendofmine，butaregularNUN——asaint——doyouhear？Soyoujuststandbackandlethertakeagoodlookround，andrestherself，untilshewantsyou。”\"Twoblackidiots，MissBrown，\"hecontinuedcheerfullyinahighervoiceofexplanation，asSophyapproached，\"whothinkbecauseoneof\'emusedtoshavemeandtheothersavedmylifethey\'vegotarighttostandattheirhumblecottagedoorandfrightenhorses!\"
SogreatwasMr。Hamlin\'sascendencyoverhisformerservantsthateventhisingeniouspleasantrywasreceivedwitheverysignofaffectionandappreciationofthehumorist，andoftheprofoundrespectforhiscompanion。AuntChloeshowedthemeffusivelyintoherparlor，asmallbutscrupulouslyneatandsweet-smellingapartment，inordinatelyfurnishedwithahugemahoganycentre-tableandchairs，andthemostfragileandmeretriciouschinaandglassornamentsonthemantel。Butthethreejasmine-edgedlatticewindowsopeneduponahomelygardenofold-fashionedherbsandflowers，andtheirfragrancefilledtheroom。Thecleanestandstarchiestofcurtains，themostdazzlingandwhitestoftidiesandchair-covers，bespoketheadjacentlaundry；indeed，thewholecottageseemedtoexhaletheodorsoflavendersoapandfreshlyironedlinen。Yetthecottagewaslargeforthecoupleandtheirassistants。\"Darwastwofrontroomsondenextflo\'datdeyneverused，\"explainedAuntChloe；\"friendsalloweddatdeycouldlet\'emtowhitefolks，butdeyhadalwaysbeendonekep\'forMarseHamlin，efheeverwantedtobewidhisoldniggersagain。”Jacklookedupquicklywithabrightenedface，madeasigntoHannibal，andthetwolefttheroomtogether。
Whenhecamethroughthepassageafewmomentslater，therewasasoundoflaughterintheparlor。Herecognizedthefull，roundlazychuckleofAuntChloe，buttherewasahighergirlishripplethathedidnotknow。HehadneverheardSophylaughbefore。Nor，whenheentered，hadheeverseenhersoanimated。ShewashelpingChloesetthetable，tothatlady\'sintensedelightat\"Missy\'s\"