"These here titles go to the eldest son. He begins by bein' a
viscount," continued Chills and Fever. He wished Yancy to know
the full measure of their splendor.
"And their wives are ladies-ain't they, Dick?"
Cavendish nodded.
"Anybody with half an eye would know you was a lady, ma'am," said
Yancy.
"Kep here is an Honorable, same as a senator or a congressman,"
Cavendish went on.
"At his age, too!" commented Yancy.
"And my daughter's the Lady Constance," said Polly.
"Havin' such a mother she ain't no choice," observed Yancy, with
an air of gentle deference.
"Dick's got the family, Mr. Yancy. My folks, the Rhetts, was
plain people."
"Some of 'em ain't so noticeably plain, either," said Yancy.
"Sho', you've a heap of good sense, Mr. Yancy!" and Cavendish
shook him warmly by the hand. "The first time I ever seen her, I
says, I'll marry that lady if it takes an arm! Well, it did most
of the time while I was co'tin' her."
"La!" cried Polly, blushing furiously. "You shouldn't tell that,
Dick. Mr. Yancy ain't interested."
"Yes, sir, I'd been hearin' about old man Rhett's Polly fo'
considerable of a spell," said Cavendish, looking at Polly
reflectively. "He lived up at the head waters of the Elk River.
Fellows who had been to his place, when girls was mentioned would
sort of shake their heads sad-like and say, 'Yes, but you had
ought to see old man Rhett's Polly, all the rest is imitations!'
Seemed like they couldn't get her off their minds.
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