But she awoke very early. No one else in the house was astir, and when Roxy entered the kitchen Dulcie was just crossing the yard from her cabin.
“Gwine ter be a drea’ful hot day,” Dulcie declared. “Yo’ sit up ter dis lille roun’ table clus ter de winder, Missy Roxy, an’ I’ll spread out somet’ing fer yo’ ter eat. ’Twill be nigh an hour ’fore break’us!” And Dulcie drew a small table to an open window, covered it with a white cloth and brought a blue pitcher filled with milk, a blue bowl, and a plate of corn bread.
“Now, jes’ he’p yo’se’f, honey,” she said. “Jacob’ll be ready time yo’ finished.”
Roxy was quite ready to obey, and as she ate the excellent corn bread and drank the cool milk she looked out of the window toward where the tall yellow lilies blossomed, and thought happily of her father’s surprise when he saw the “triumphal” arch.
“Dulcie, I am going to ask Polly to sing,” she said, when she was ready to leave the kitchen.
Dulcie chuckled and smiled, as she usually did at whatever Roxy might say.
“W’y don’ yo’ hab Jacob an’ de odder niggers sing? Dey know sum right fine songs. I reckon yo’ pa be right pleased, Missy Roxy, ter hear ’em!” she said.
The little girl clapped her hands in delight.
“That will be splendid, Dulcie! Splendid!” she exclaimed. “Oh! It’s really going to be a celebration.”
“Yo’ jes’ speak to yo’ grandma ’bout it!” said the well-pleased Dulcie.