“Ah, Aunt Julie Ann, you were walking in your sleep.”
“Nasah! I’se jist as waked as I is now. I try my bes’ ergin ter holler, but I clean los’ my breath and couldn’t. So I crawl to the Jedge’s room, an’ tell him what I see. He wuz scared most ter death, but he follow me out in de hall an’ look up. He seed ‘em too an’ drop down side er me er foamin’ at de mouf. He’s powerful scary anyhow, de Jedge is—des like us niggers. I got him ter bed and poured er big drink er licker down ‘im, an’ when he come to, he make me promise nebber ter tell nobody, an’ I promise. Cose, hit’s des like I’se talkin’ ter myself, honey, when I tell you.”
“And this morning he gave orders to admit no one of the tribe of Graham inside the yard again?”
“Yassah!”
“Well, tell his Honour that I am here and wish to see him at once.”
“Yassah, I spec he won’t come down—but I tell ‘im, sah.”
She waddled up the stairs to the Judge’s room. John heard the quarrel between them. Aunt Julie Ann’s voice loud, shrill, defiant, insolent, above the Judge’s. She served him for his money and her love for the old house, but secretly she despised him as she did all poor white trash and in such moments made no effort to hide her feelings.
“Bully for Aunt Julie Ann!” John chuckled.
When she returned, he slipped the last piece of money he possessed into her hand and smiled.
“Keep it for good luck,” he said.