"Tha'z when those twin' make him thad visit, Walnut Hill'. He say: 'W'ad uze to you if I make my laz' will? I give any'ow everything to those twin'.' An' tha'z biccause" (to old Joy) "thad chile w'ad die——"
"Drownded," murmured the nurse. "Ayfteh dat transpiah he take a shine to ev'y man-chile he git his ahm aroun'."
Madame resumed: "An' I say to him: 'Give all the rez' to who' you want, but Phylliz—to me.' 'No!' he say, 'you, you'll put her free!'"
"Why didn't he want her set free?" asked Ramsey.
"An' you are there—an' silend! I forgod you!"
"Why didn't he want her set free?" insisted the forgotten.
"Ah!" said the mother to the senator as though the inquiry were his, "Dan, he seem' to thing tha'z a caztigation on him. An' he say: 'Neveh mine, I figs thad so she can'd be free pretty soon.' An' me, I thoughd he leave her to those twin' till I'm reading the will."
Ramsey stood up elatedly. "I know what he did! I see it!"
But as her mother chidingly murmured her name she reflected the maternal dignity and accepted a bunch of keys.
"Go, if you please, ad my room," said madame, "open——"