“Where did she go?”
“Up the river some ways to a landin’ on to de Marylan’ shore as I never was at afore.”
“And what then?”
“She lef’ me den, Hild’eth an’ me, at a farmhouse where we landed, an’ took a horse an’ rode away. She was gone all day. Last night she come back, an’ paid de bill, and took boat an’ come straight home.”
“Very well, that is all very well of you, Forrest, so far. You have told the truth, I suppose; but you have not told the whole truth, I know. Whom did she meet at that farmhouse? and who rode away with her when she went?”
“Not a singly soul did she meet, ’cept it was de fam’ly. An’ not a singly soul did ride with her.”
“You are lying!” exclaimed Nellie, who, in her anger, was very capable of using strong language to the servants.
“No! ’fore my ’Vine Marster in heaben, I’se tellin’ of you de trufe, Miss Nellie.”
“You are not! Your mistress has tutored you what to say.”
The old man’s face flushed darkly, as he answered: