"I's a good mind to go off wid you in de wilderness, like de chil'en of Israel," said Tiff, "though dere an't no manna falling nowadays."
"Tiff, does marrying father make her our ma?" said Fanny.
"No 'deed, Miss Fanny, it doesn't! Yer ma was one o' de fustest old Virginny families. It was jist throwing herself 'way, marrying him! I neber said dat ar 'fore, 'cause it wan't 'spectful. But I don't care now!"
At this moment Cripps' voice was heard shouting:—
"Hallo, you Tiff! Where is the durned nigger? I say, come back! Poll and I's made it up, now! Bring 'long them children, and let them get acquainted with their mammy," he said, laying hold of Fanny's hand, and drawing her, frightened and crying, towards the house.
"Don't you be afraid, child," said Cripps; "I've brought you a new ma."
"We didn't want any new ma!" said Teddy, in a dolorous voice.
"Oh, yes, you do," said Cripps, coaxing him. "Come along, my little man! There's your mammy," he said, pushing him into the fat embrace of Polly.
"Fanny, go kiss your ma."
Fanny hung back and cried, and Teddy followed her example.