"
Spriggs, a tall, broad-shouldered, powerfully-built man, with dark hair
and beard and a small, keen black eye, came forward with a bold free air
and a "Good-even', miss, good-even', sir;" adding, as he helped himself to
a seat without waiting for an invitation, "Well, here I am, and I s'pose
you've somethin' to say or you wouldn't have appointed the meetin'."
"Yes, Mr. Spriggs," said Elsie, folding her pretty hands in her lap and
looking steadily and coldly into his brazen face, "I have this to say;
that I entirely disapprove of flogging, and will have none of it on the
estate. I hope you understand me."
"That's plain English and easy understood, Miss Dinsmore, and Dinsmore,
and of course you have a right to dictate in the matter; but I tell you
what, these darkies o' yours are a dreadful lazy set, specially that Suse;
and it's mighty hard for folks that's been used to seein' things done up
spick and span and smart to put up with it."
"But some amount of patience with the natural slowness of the negro is a
necessary trait in the character of an overseer who wishes to remain in my
employ."
"Well, miss, I always calculate to do the very best I can by my employers,
and when you come to look round the estate, I guess you'll find things in
prime order; but I couldn't ha' done it without lettin' the darkies know
they'd got to toe the mark right straight.
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