"This is the way I used to cure Gabriel, when he was ill or weary," she said in a tone too low for the others to hear.
"Did you?" whispered Nan, closing her eyes with a sigh of satisfaction.
"This is the second time I have been able to sit down since breakfast," remarked Mrs. Lumsden.
"I have walked miles and miles," replied Nan, wearily.
There was a noise in the hall, and presently Tasma Tid peeped cautiously into the room. "Wey you done wit Honey Nan?" she asked. "She in dis house; you ain' kin fool we."
"Come in, and behave yourself if you know how," said Mrs. Lumsden. "Come in, Tid."
"How come we name Tid? How come we ain't name Tasma Tid?"
No one thought it worth while to make any reply to this, and the African came into the room, acting as if she were afraid some one would jump at her. "Sit in the corner there at the foot of the sofa," said Mrs. Lumsden. Tasma Tid complied very readily with this command, since it enabled her to be near Nan. The African squatted on the floor, and sat there motionless.
Meriwether Clopton and Miss Fanny went away after awhile, but Mrs. Lumsden continued to sit by Nan, caressing her hand. Not a word was said for a long time, but the silence was finally broken by Nan, who spoke to the African.
"Tasma Tid, I want you to go home and tell Miss Johnny that I will spend the rest of the day and the night with Grandmother Lumsden."