Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/200

188 but—but—if you are really in unpleasant circumstances—"

"Deuced unpleasant, I assure you. I 've had a man for sixteen years—never knew him to make a mistake, to be off duty when required, or to have any serious fault—and now he swears he can't stand Virginia any longer, and intends leaving me in the lurch. I can't stand Virginia much longer myself, but I don't want the villain to know that his loss is actually driving me back to England before my time. But the case is this—I can't shave myself. Does that black fellow of yours, David, shave you?"

"I always shave myself—but David understands the art of shaving, and has practised it on guests upon various occasions, with much success."

"I wish you would send him over to Shrewsbury to-morrow. If I can't get a man by the time Bridge leaves—which will be next week—I might ride over here every day, and, with your permission, make use of David's services until I can get a capable white man."

To say "No" was generally impossible to