"Has your master risen, and does he know of his sister's absence?" inquired Winnie.
"No, nobody is up but me, and Missus Mary always tells me to come right to her room first thing with a pitcher o' cool water; so I went this mornin', you see, and behold missus' door wide open and no missus thar! O, Miss Winnie, I 'spect satin has sperritted off soul and body, 'deed I does."
"O, no, Aunt Eunice, I think not!" said Winnie smiling; "but you had better go to your master and inform him what has occurred."
"'Deed I will, Miss," said the black woman, disappearing.
Winnie proceeded to dress, in a strange perplexity of fear and astonishment, while Aunt Eunice thumped long and loud on her master's door.
"Who's there?" at last exclaimed a voice within.
"Me, Aunt Eunice," said the woman frantically, "O, massa, massa, missus gone, and who's to pour the coffee for breakfast?"
"What are you raving about?" said the master, opening his door; "why are you disturbing me at this early hour?"
"Missus gone; sperritted off soul and body, I 'spect."
"What are you talking about?" demanded Lester, not in the least comprehending her words.