The tears rose to Pina’s eyes, as she answered:
“My mammy is only a poor colored ’oman; but indeed, ma’am, if you will let her, she will do for you as loving and as tender as any mother.”
“Will she stay with you long, Pina!”
“She would like to stay some weeks, if you would let her, ma’am.”
“She can stay as long as she likes, for your sake, my good girl. But your mother—she must be in years, Pina?”
“She’s past fifty, ma’am, I believe.”
“Is she—experienced?”
“Beg pardon, ma’am?”
“Is she—wise, skillful, knowing, I mean, about sickness and about children?”
“Oh! yes, ma’am, which that is her perfession, brought up to it, ma’am.”