"He jump up an' run des lak er turkey! He run all de way down town, an' bless God ef he didn't buy me a new calico dress an' fotch hit home ter me. He warn't no man at all! I wuz dat sorry fer 'im an' dat ershamed er him I couldn't look 'im in de face ergin. I gits er divorce frum him——"
She paused, rose, and looked at Andy with tender admiration:
"But, Lordy, honey, you an' me's gwine ter have joyful times!"
Andy made a break for the door but she was too quick for him. With a swift swinging movement, astonishing in its rapidity for her size, she threw herself on him and her arms encircled his neck:
"I'se yo' woman an' you'se my man!" she cried with a finality that left her victim without a ray of hope. He was muttering incoherent protests when Helen's laughing voice came to his rescue:
"Oho!" she cried, with finger uplifted in a teasing gesture.
Minerva loosed her grip on Andy overwhelmed with embarrassment, while he crouched behind her figure crying:
"'Twa'n't me, Miss Helen—'twa'n't me!"
Helen continued to laugh while Andy grasped the tray and beat a hasty retreat.
Helen approached Minerva teasingly: