"Why, what's the matter with him?" the father asked with a touch of anxiety in his voice.
"Lordy, dey ain't nuttin' de matter wid him 'tall—hit's a fresh cut!"
Again Andy laughed with unction.
"What is it?" Norton asked with impatience. "What's the matter with Tom?"
"Nuttin' 'tall, sah—nuttin' 'tall—I nebber see 'im lookin' so well in my life. He gets up sooner den I ebber knowed him before. He comes home quicker an' stays dar longer an' he's de jolliest young gentleman I know anywhar in de state. Mo' specially, sah, since dat handsome young lady from de North come down to see us——"
The father's heart was in his throat as he stammered:
"A handsome young lady from the North—I don't understand!"
"Why, Miss Helen, sah, de young lady you invite ter spen' de summer wid us."
Norton's eyes suddenly grew dim, he leaned on the table, stared at Andy, and repeated blankly:
"The young lady I asked to spend the summer with us?"