“But yo’ mus’, chile; yo’ ain’t sick. Yo’ mus’ go to school.”
“Not to-day. I jus’ won’t, Auntie.”
“Yes yo’ will, Miss Sue! yo’ ’ll go ef I has to lead yo’ dere by de ear o’ you.”
Even Phil joined the laughter now, and he said in his grave yet pleasant way:
“You’ll have to lead us all, then, Auntie, and there are more ears than you have hands.”
Aunt Hyacinth seemed bewildered. She looked around the table, from one to another of the bright, laughing faces, and shook her head reproachfully.
Then Sue, having consumed the cake, leaned back in her chair, shook the tangled brown curls from her face and slowly raised her long curling lashes, until the mischievous eyes were unveiled and sent a challenge to Auntie’s startled ones.
“We’re misbehavin’ drea’fully; ain’t we? But a fact’s a fact, Auntie. We’re none of us goin’ to school—so there, now!”
“W’y, yo’—yo’—yo’—”
Sue sprang upon her chair and threw both arms around old Hyacinth’s neck, giving the black cheek a smacking kiss.