“Yes, mammy; but daddy done gone ’way in de boat to Sinnigger’s.”
“Whey?” sharply demanded the woman.
“To Sinnigger’s, mammy.”
“What he done gone dere for, when he wanted so bad here?”
“Marster done sent him dere arter de doctor. Marster come a-rabin’ out to de quarter, just now, like he gone rip stabin’ mad, an’ say how mist’ess wer’ took berry ill, an’ he hauled off daddy down to de landin’ to start him off to Sinnigger’s arter de doctor. Is mist’ess dat bad, sure ’nough?”
“Hum! Sent arter de doctor, eh? No use send arter de doctor now. Set a house afire, an’ den run for a gourd o’ water to put it out! Hum! Dat a blind!” muttered ’Phia.
“Is mist’ess so berry bad?” inquired the girl.
“So yer daddy’s gone to Sinnigger’s. Whey’s yer marster?”
“Marster done gone down to de boat landin’ to hurry daddy off, I telled you before, mammy. But, say, is mist’ess bad as all dat comes to?” inquired the girl for the third time.
“It ain’t none o’ your business! You go right straight down de kitchen and put on a kettle ob water to heat,” replied the woman, closing the door on her daughter.