"Barbara, before we leave, you and I are going shopping in some of these big stores."
"Oh mother! Really?"
"We'll go."
The girl sighed, "That will be wonderful!"
Emma worked on, secretly relieved and at the same time puzzled. She had thought that she understood her daughter thoroughly, but apparently she didn't. Emma herself wanted desperately to shop in Independence, but knew that she'd never dare go alone. She'd expected Barbara to be a little afraid too, and thought the two of them might lean on each other. But there had been only happy and eager enthusiasm in the girl's voice. Barbara had a self-confidence and self-assurance that Emma had never possessed, and that was good.
"Ahm heah to help you, ma'am."
Emma turned, a little startled, but when she saw the enormous colored man, she smiled. She had an instinctive perception that enabled her to understand people, and there was no harm in the colored giant. Emma looked at the load of boards, a load that any ordinary man would have found difficult to carry over his shoulder, that Sam held almost effortlessly under his arm. The Negro said,
"Ahm s'posed to make you a table, ma'am."
"Well, let's see," Emma smiled again. "We shouldn't have it too near the fire. How about over there under the first tree?"
"Shu-ah, ma'am."