“Hey, Unc’ Isham!� Dick called. “Have you seen Anne?�

The man started and the woman was suddenly silent.

Dick called again; then he sprang over the fence and started toward the cabin.

Lily Belle said something sharply to Isham, who turned and said: “Hey? Why, it’s little Marse Dick. Was you calling me?� and hobbled down the path.

“Have you seen Miss Anne Lewis?�

“See who? What you say, Marse Dick? Laws, I’m gittin’ deef!�

“Anne, Anne Lewis,� Dick said impatiently. “Which way did she go?�

“How I know which way she go? I ain’t see her,� mumbled Isham.

“What!� Dick said sharply. “I saw you going up the road in your cart, and she was there at the top of the hill—in a blue dress.�

Isham looked terribly confused. Then he said: “Was that her? Was that Miss Anne? My old eyes ain’t no good nowadays. I knowed somebody passed me, but I was studyin’ ’bout my business, an’ I ain’t took no noticement who ’twas.�