“But, Aunt Sally, please tell me what the trouble is,” begged Mary Louise.
“I cyarn’t bear ter tell you, honey baby. Me’n Eben an’ Marse Jim air been all time tryin’ ter keep trouble ’way from you an’ now I cyarn’t be the one ter tell it to you. Marse Jim air sho the one what am a bringin’ it on you an’ I’ll say it to his face right now an’ I’d a said it to his face befo’ the wah, even if he had a sol’ me down the river the nex’ minute for my imperence. He mought sen’ me a packin’ now, but, befo’ Gawd, I’m a gonter tell it to him.”
“Tell him what? Please speak out, Aunt Sally!”
“Tell him he ain’t called on ter do no sich confabbin’ as he done did.”
“Confabulating with whom? Mr. Danny hasn’t been home, has he? It isn’t quite time for him.”
“Yes, he done a been an’ he gone agin.”
“Gone! Gone where?”
“I ain’t sho wha’ he gone but, arfter sech a bullyraggin’ as Marse Jim done give him, I reckon there wa’n’t nothin fer him ter do but light out.”
“Oh, Aunt Sally! Aunt Sally! What am I to do?”
“Lawd love you, honey baby, yo’ ol’ Aunt Sally ain’t got no ’vice ter han’ yer. I reckon’ you’ll have ter take it to the Lawd in prayer.”