"Will you go into the market and get what you'd like from Mr. Bodwell? Here, give him this and tell him Miss Stewart sent you," and hastily taking a card from her case, Peggy wrote upon it:
"Please give bearer what is needed," and signed her name. "Get a good thick steak and anything else Nell would like."
The man hesitated. "But I ain't askin' charity, miss."
"This is for NELL, and maybe I'll buy Pepper—if SHE will sell him," flashed Peggy, with a radiant smile.
"I'll do as yo' tell me, miss. Mebbe it's Providence. Nell always says:
'The good Lord'll tell us how, Dad,' an' mebbe she's right, mebbe she
is," and worn, weary, discouraged Jim Bolivar went toward the market.
During his absence Jess returned.
"Dat man's a no' 'count dead beat, Miss Peggy. Yas'm, he is fer a fac', an' he gwine treat dat hawse scan'lous."
Peggy's eyes grew dark. "We'll see," was all she said, but Jess chuckled. Most of the help at Severndale knew that look. "Jess, unharness that horse and tie him behind the surrey," was her next astonishing order.
"Fo' de Lawd's sake, Miss Peggy, what yo' bown' fer ter do? Yo' gwine start hawsestealin'?" Jess didn't know whether to laugh or take it seriously. When Jim Bolivar returned Pepper was trying to reason out the wherefor of being hitched behind such a handsome vehicle as Peggy's surrey, and Jess was protesting:
"But—but—butter," stammered Jess, "Miss Peggy, yo' am' never in de roun' worl' gwine ter drive from de town an' clar out ter Severndale wid dat disrep'u'ble ol' hawse towin' 'long behime WE ALL?"
"I certainly am, and what is more, Jim Bolivar is going to sit on the back seat and hold the leader. He has got to get HOME and he can't without help. Mr. Bolivar, please do as I say," Peggy's voice held a merry note but her little nod of authority meant "business."