“Why, Unc’ Aaron, I think we shall stay,” was the answer. “Mr. Clover offers to put us up.”
“Yas, suh, den yuh wants yo’ cyah put in de ca’ige house.”
“Yes, but I’ll see to it myself. I may want to use it before night.”
Unc’ Aaron bowed himself off, Mr. Pattison watching him with a smile. “I believe the old codger just wanted to show himself off in his dress up coat,” he said to Joanne. “He certainly is a character. I asked him once where he got that coat and he said: ‘I jes’ required it, suh,’ and that was all I could get out of him. We’re going over to the burnt district. Jo, don’t you want to go along?”
“I’d love to, but I shall have to ask permission first, for it is out of bounds.”
“Oho! so you are under military orders, are you?”
“In a manner. I wasn’t court-martialed the other day when I went off to signal to the boys about the fire, but then that was a case of emergency.”
“You signalled, did you, and got it all right?”
“Oh, yes, I have it down fine now.”
“What else have you down fine?”