Uncle Rufus gave one of his inimitable chuckles.
“Oh!” gasped Dot.
“Oh!” gasped Tess.
“Yo’-all kin come down now,” announced Uncle Rufus.
“Did Ruth say so?” asked Tess.
“Yes’m, she done say dat!” declared Uncle Rufus. “Miss Ruth say she done mitigate yo’ punishment, whateber dat means, an’ I wants to say dat I forgibs yo’. Ha! Ha! I guess I done needed de baff anyhow.”
“Oh, Uncle Rufus, we’re awfully sorry if we gave you a bath before it was time,” said Dot.
“Doan yo’-all worry none ’bout dat!” chuckled the old colored man. “Come ’long down ’fore supper!”
Tess and Dot, much chastened in spirit, descended. They were grateful that none of the boys were around to see their humiliation, and for a time they went about much subdued, trying to make it appear that they were more sinned against than sinning.
But Ruth knew them, and so did Agnes, for they had done such pranks before and always the same thing followed their just punishment. So, though Nalbro felt sorry for them and was inclined to “mother” them, she was advised against it by the older Corner House girls.