"'Draw it off and keep it,' she said; 'conceal the child under your shawl and take her with you when you go! Save her and your fortune shall be made.'
"I declare, master, I hadn't time to think, before I heard one of them wretches rap at the door.
"'Come! Get ready to go,' he said.
"She also beckoned me. I hastened to her. With eager whispers and imploring gestures she prayed me to take her ring and save her child.
"'But you,' said I, 'who is to attend to you?'
"'I do not know or care! Save her!'
"The rapping continued. I ran to the corner where I had left my things. I put on my bonnet, made a sort of sling around my neck of the silk handkercher, opened the large part of it like a hammock and laid the little sleeping babe there. Then I folded my big shawl around my breast and nobody any the wiser. The rapping was very impatient.
"'I am coming,' said I.
"'Remember!' whispered the poor girl.
"'I will,' said I, and went out and opened the door. There stood t'other willain with his head covered with black crape. I dreamt of nothing but black-headed demons for six months afterward.