The flower ignored them both. "There was the auctioneer," she said; "there were the slaves, there the crowd of bidders; between them the block, above them the beautiful dome. Very soon Mingo was on the block, and the first bid was from Sidney. She was the only one in a hurry except Mingo. He was trying to see her, but she was hiding from him behind grandpère; yet not from the auctioneer. The auctioneer stopped.
"'Who authorized you to bid here?' he asked her.
"'Nobody, sir; I's free.' She held up her paper.
"Grandpère nodded to the auctioneer.
"'Will Mr. Chapdelaine please read it out?'
"He read it out, signature and all.
"'Anybody know any one of that name?' the auctioneer asked, and grand'mère said:
"'That's my aunt. This free girl is my maid."
"'Oh, bidding for you?' he said; and grand'mere said no, the girl was bidding on her own account, with her own money.
"'What kind of money? We can't take shinplasters.' For 'twas then 'sixty-one--year of secession, you know.