“Yes; he was at home but one day and could remain no longer. With the British such near neighbors, the militia must not be caught napping. The plantations are suffering for lack of attention, but the men must fight though the crops fail in consequence. Will you send Lutie to me, if you see her on your way down? And do come soon again.”
Rhoda promised and took her leave. In a few minutes Lutie appeared. She had not shown her usual devotion to her mistress during the last day or two, and seemed anxious to efface herself, a proceeding strictly the opposite to her usual one.
“You want me, Miss Letty?” she said as she came in.
“Yes, I do. I don’t want to be left up here all alone. It seems to me, Lutie, you have a precious lot of work downstairs, for you try to slip out every chance you get.”
“Miss Rhoda, she hyar,” Lutie began protestingly.
“I know she was here, but she is not now. I never thought you would neglect your own Miss Letty, Lutie; especially when she is half sick, and cannot get around without some one’s help. Haven’t I always been good to you?”
“Yass, miss, yuh has indeed.”
“Then look here; tell me the truth. Now don’t look so scared; I am not going to have you whipped. You know you never had a whipping in your life, except from your own mammy. I want you to tell me who gave you those papers to give to your Marster William.”
Lutie began to sniffle. “’Deed, Miss Letty, I didn’t see him. He have a cloak over him, an’ he hide his face, an’ he a gre’t big man.”
“With fiery eyes like Napoleon Bonaparte that you’re so afraid of? Now look here, is it any one I know?”