Charles W. Chesnutt

“ A few days later, Rena looked out of the
window near her desk and saw a low basket phaeton,
drawn by a sorrel pony, driven sharply into the
clearing and drawn up beside an oak sapling.
The occupant of the phaeton, a tall, handsome,
well-preserved lady in middle life, with slightly
gray hair, alighted briskly from the phaeton, tied
the pony to the sapling with a hitching-strap, and
advanced to the schoolhouse door. ”

“ She knew, too, that Tryon did not live
in Sampson County, though the exact location of
his home was not clear to her.
"And where are you staying, my dear?" asked
the good lady.
"I'm boarding at Mrs. Wain's," answered
Rena.
"Mrs. Wain's?"
"Yes, they live in the old Campbell place."
"Oh, yes--Aunt Nancy. She's a good enough
woman, but we don't think much of her son Jeff. ”