| Share page |
|
260 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
Tom and Adolph assisted to get him composed for the night, the latter in high spirits, evidently regarding the matter as a good joke, and laughing heartily at the rusticity of Tom's horror, who really was simple enough to lie awake most of the rest of the night, praying for his young master.
" Well, Tom, what are you waiting for ? " said St. Clare, the next day, as he sat in his library in dressing-gown and slippers. St. Clare had just been intrusting Tom with some money, and various commissions. " Is n't all right there, Tom ? " he added, as Tom still stood waiting. " I 'm 'fraid not, Mas'r," said Tom, with a grave face. St. Clare laid down his paper, and set down his coffee-cup, and looked at Tom.
" Why, Tom, what's the case ? You look as solemn as a coffin."
" I feel very bad, Mas'r. I allays have thought that Mas'r would be good to everybody."
" Well, Tom, have n't I been ? Come, now, what do you want ? There 's something you have n't got, I suppose, and this is the preface."
" Mas'r allays been good to me. I have n't nothing to complain of, on that head. But there is one that Mas'r isn't good to."
" Why, Tom, what's got into you ? Speak out; what do you mean ! "
" Last night, between one and two, I thought so. I studied upon the matter then. Mas'r is n't good to himself."
Tom said this with his back to his master, and his hand on the door-knob. St. Clare felt his face flush crimson, but he laughed.
" Oh, that's all, is it ? " he said, gayly. " All! " said Tom, turning suddenly round and falling on his knees. " Oh, my dear young Mas'r ! I 'm afraid it will be loss of all — all — body and soul. The good Book says, ' It biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder!' my dear Mas'r ! " |
||
|
|
||