Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/272

268 of which he rented to the colored people, except the large one that stood in the center of the settlement. This building boasted of four rooms downstairs and two attic rooms, besides a passage running through the middle of the house that had originally been opened at both ends, but had afterwards been boarded up with a rude door and window cut in the front. This cabin had been built by the first Bolling settling at The Hedges and was occupied by two generations before the building of the mansion. Aunt Peachy's family had virtually owned this cabin, even in slave times. Her father before her had lived in it and now her descendants swarmed like bees around a rotting hive. She had always had a room at the great house, but until the last ten years, before she became so feeble, she had divided her time between the cabin and her room, which was off the kitchen at The Hedges.

Philip had been powerless to effect much change in Aunt Peachy's house. It was almost as filthy and unkempt as ever. But he had worked wonders on the rented cabins, sternly threatening to evict any tenants who did not comply with his regulations. His father had turned the collecting of rents over to his son. It made no difference to Rolfe Bolling in what condition the property was kept, providing he