"Are you hungry?" she asked. "I will get you something to eat."
"Madame must not trouble much," Paul said, respectfully.
"It's the natur' o' children and darkies to eat," remarked the officer, sapiently; "you'd better hunt 'em up a cold bite. I feel kinder hungry myself, Mrs. Allen."
The old woman went about her duties in a methodical way, finding a kind of relief in the occupation. She placed such food as she had prepared upon the table, and motioned Paul to sit down. Before the little fellow touched a morsel himself, he heaped a plate with great slices of gingerbread and mince pie, and carried them to Jube.
"Do look at that," muttered the officer; "wal, I never seed a little chap have so much manners afore."
"You are much kind," Paul said to Mrs. Allen; "so was good Rice—le grand Dieu will bless both."
"Granite do," remarked the officer; "I wonder if that's his name?"
"The letter says, Paul," returned the woman.
"Me; that me," said the boy, catching his name, and looking up with a smile.
The woman once more took up the letter, and sat down to gain a clearer knowledge of its contents.