"Ain't Marse Robert comin' doun to his coffee, M'am?"
"Not yet, Ben. I couldn't persuade him." The mistress caught the effort of her faithful servant to help in his humble way and it touched her. She was making a firm resolution to regain her self-control when a distant cry was heard from the roadway.
"Uncle Ben!"
"What's dat?" the old man asked.
"He's coming?" Mrs. Lee gasped.
"I dunno, M'am. I hears sumfin!"
Sam's cry echoed near the house now in growing excitement.
"Uncle Ben—Uncle Ben!"
"See, Ben, see quick—" Mary cried.
"Yassam. He's comin', sho. He's seed him."