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"Looks lak a love letteh. Miss Bev'ly," was the answer, as Aunt Fanny gingerly placed an envelope in her mistress's hand. Beverly looked at it in amazement. It was unmistakably a letter, addressed to her, which had been left at her window some time in the night. Her heart gave a thump and she went red with anticipated pleasure. With eager fingers she tore open the envelope.
"Po' lil' honey," was all the complacent "bear" said in reply, without altering her methods in the least. "Well," said Beverly threateningly, with a shake of her head, "be careful, that's all. Have you heard the news?" "Wha' news, Miss Bev'ly?" "We're going back to Washin'ton." "Thank de Lawd! When?" "I don't know. I've just this instant made up my mind.
"Ain' yo' habin' er good time, honey?" "No, I am not." "Fo' de lan's sake, Ah wouldn' s'picioned hit fo' a minnit. Hit's de gayest place Ah mos' eveh saw 'cept Wash'ton an' Lex'ton an' Vicksbu'g." "Well, you don't know everything," said Beverly crossly. "I wish you'd take that red feather out of my hat right away." "Shall Ah frow hit away, Miss Bev'ly?"
"Who's a-lecturin' anybody, Ah'd lak to know? Ah'm jes' tellin' yo' what yo' was a-doin' when Ah came into de room. Yo' was a-sleepin' p'etty doggone tight, lemme tell yo'. Is yo' goin' out fo' yo' walk befo' b'eakfus, honey? 'Cause if yo' is, yo' all 'll be obleeged to climb out'n dat baid maghty quick-like. Yo' baf is ready, Miss Bev'ly."
Aunt Fanny was not so proud and imperious. It was with difficulty that her high-strung young mistress suppressed the wails that long had been under restraint in Aunt Fanny's huge and turbulent bosom. "Good Lawd, Miss Bev'ly, dey'll chop us all to pieces an' take ouah jewl'ry an' money an' clo'es and ev'ything else we done got about us. Good Lawd, le's tu'n back, Miss Bev'ly.
It was this likely pair which came pounding across the athletic field of Kilton Hall at the moment of Mr. Ford's question, the human of the species, with eyes rolling until they were nearly all whites, shouting as he drew near: "My Lawd-a-mighty, Miss Bev'ly, is yo' hu't? Is yo' daid?" It was a good enough bit of acting to have won the actor fame and fortune.
Ma Lawd, I'se been clar distracted fer de las' ten minutes fer ter know which-a-way ter tu'n! I aint really believe Miss Bev'ly is in no danger 'twell Miss Petty done got me so sympathizin', but now I'se shore rattled an' I'se gwin' ter find out fer sartin. Come on yo' Jumbo!
"It is getting worse and worse," exclaimed Aunt Fanny's mistress, petulantly. "I'm black and blue from head to foot, aren't you, Aunt Fanny?" "Ah cain' say as to de blue, Miss Bev'ly. Hit's a mos' monstrous bad road, sho 'nough. Stay up dar, will yo'!" she concluded, jamming a bag into an upper corner. Miss Calhoun, tourist extraordinary, again consulted the linguist in the saddle.
"Wha what time is it?" demanded the newcomer from the land of Nod, stretching her fine young body with a splendid but discontented yawn. "Seben, Miss Bev'ly; wha' time do yo' s'pose hit is? Hit's d' reg'lah time, o' co'se. Did yo' all have a nice sleep, honey?" and Aunt Fanny went blissfully about the business of the hour.
The man looked on in silent wonder for a minute, and then strode off to where a group of his men stood talking. "Is yo' daid yit, Miss Bev'ly is de end came?" moaned Aunt Fanny. Beverly could not repress a smile. "I am quite alive, Auntie. These men will not hurt us. They are very nice gentlemen."
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