"Why, honey, wot you want de time to pass quick fer? You oughter be like de hummin'-bird, gederin sweets all de day."
"I feel more like a croaking raven."
"You'se quar, Missy Ella. You'se up an' you'se down, an' you doan know why. Ole Hannah dat lib wid you says dat you'se gittin' a lot ob beaux. Why, you eben make a 'pression on dat big, 'ansome Northern chap, ole Houghton's son, wen you doan know it. More'n once he ax me which de cakes you make, an' wen I tell him, he wanter buy dem all."
"That's very funny," Ella said, and there was the old mirthful ring in her laugh.
"You know him?" Aun' Sheba asked, quickly.
"I met him at Mrs. Willoughby's."
"Shuah now! Dat counts fer it. Well, he'd gobble all you'se cake if I'd let him, but I had oder cus'mers on my min'; an' he seem ter hab on'y you on his min'."
"You were very wise, Aun' Sheba. So much cake would have made him ill," and she still laughed joyously.
"'Pears to me you'se gittin' betteh, Missy Ella."
"Oh, you always make me laugh and hearten me up, Aun' Sheba."