"Ruffin, this country is in God's hands—and He will do what's right—"
"That's just what I'm afraid, sir!" Ruffin mused. "Oh, no—I—don't mean that exactly. I mean that we must anticipate—"
"The wisdom of God?"
"That we must prepare to meet our enemies, sir."
"I agree with you. And I'm going to do it. I've been doing a lot of thinking and soul searching since you gave me this troublesome book to read—"
He stopped short, rose and drew the old-fashioned bell cord.
Ben appeared in full blue cloth and brass buttons, on duty again as butler.
"Yassah—"
"I'm glad to see you, Ben. You're feeling yourself again?"
"Yassah. Praise God, I'se back at my place once mo', sah."