“Bettah lemme han’ yo’all er cup o’ tea an’ suthin’ to pick on,” the old darkey pleaded. “Ah fetch it in er minute.”
“No, Serena, I can’t eat. I don’t believe that I will ever want to eat again.” A paroxysm of sobs wrenched the little frame of the girl and she dabbed frantically with a moist handkerchief at the great tears which welled up in the blue eyes.
The springs of the bed groaned and strained as Serena seated herself upon its edge. A gentle mothering look was in her face, and she began to rub the white arm gently with her big black hand. “Res’ youse’f, ma li’l honey baby,” she murmured. “Serena ain’ gwine let nobody hu’t her baby gal.” Suddenly she bristled. “Dis yere hu’tin’ ma honey chil’ bettah stop. Ah bus’ somebody plum wide open,” she growled ferociously. “Ah fights fo’ ma baby agin de whole wo’ld.”
The girl’s sobs lessened enough for her to speak. “I am going away, Serena.”
“Whar you gwine go, chil’?” exclaimed the old woman with much excitement.
“I am going to Aunt Kate’s home in Maine.”
“W’en is we gwine start?”
“I go day after tomorrow,” explained Virginia sorrowfully. “You stay here, Serena.”
“Howcum? Who plan dat foolishness? Wot gwine keep me heah w’en ma honey chil’ done leave? Ah bets ah follers ma baby ef ah has to clim’ ba’foot th’ough fiah an’ brimstone. Yas’r.”
“You must stay and take care of my father, Serena.”