His Marse David had sent for her and wanted her to come at once. He had brought a horse for her.
"Is he ill—seriously ill?" He had had a bad cold and was worse.
"The doctor—has he sent for the doctor?"
The negro said that he was to take her back first and then go for the doctor.
"Go at once."
It was very dark, he urged, and slippery.
"Go on for the doctor! Where have you left the horse?"
The horse was at the stiles. The negro insisted that it would be better for him to go back with her.
"Don't lose time," she said, "and don't keep me waiting. Go! as quickly as you can!"
The negro cautioned her to dismount at the frozen creek.