“That man that brung them?” replied Airy, in a puzzled voice.
“Yes, missie, de good man knew when Roblee was away, he brung ’em an’ he took ’em. He roared an’ he prayed, but Bylow went on a-rippin’, an’ I led him in dis harness room an’ locked de door, an’ me an’ Bylow set outside, an’ when de Jedge come he interviewed the crimminel. Says he, ‘What you bin stealin’ my oats fo’?’ Says de man, ‘I works hard an’ I’m only half paid, an’ I’ve got a sick chile at home a-dyin’ fer want of oranges an’ grapes, an’ I hevn’t got no money fo’ to buy ’em. Jedge, if you hev me ‘rested, it’ll kill her.’ Says de Jedge, ‘You ought to ’a’ thought of yer daughtah befoh. Come in de house wid me,’ an’ he took him in. In ten minutes I see de man a-comin’ out of de house wid a bag of some knubby things undah one arm—they mought ’a’ bin petetters, they mought ’a’ bin oranges—an’ undah de oddah he had one of Mis’ Blodgett’s lemon pies, ’cause I see de marangue from it stickin’ to de paper, an’ he had oddah groceries, an’ he was cryin’, and he hadn’t no hand to get his hankersniff, so I followed on behin’ wid Bylow, an’ when we got out o’ sight of de house, an’ in sight of his cyart wid de waitin’ hoss, I says, ‘Boss, shall I give yer a lend of my hankersniff?’ Says he, ‘Quit yer foolin’, ye sassy black imp,’ an’ he begun to gathah up his lines. Says he, ‘Ye’ve got a good place heah. I advise you to stick to it,’ an’ then he druv away, an’ I aint heard no talk of no policeman.”
“Good-bye,” said Airy, abruptly, “I’m a-goin’ in to see the Jedge,” and she went slowly down the way she had come, and, going round to the front of the house, rang the bell.
The Judge was expecting her this evening, and Jennie, having been warned, made no protest.
Bethany had gone to bed. She remembered quite well the evening that Airy was to return, and she could hardly wait to finish her dinner before retiring to her room. The Judge smiled broadly at her haste. She did not like Airy.
He put down his book when the young Tingsby girl entered the room, then he took off his glasses and surveyed her in silence. He was shocked by her appearance. She was always thin and delicate, but to-night there were dark rings under her eyes, and her manner was subdued and languid. However, her indomitable spirit shone forth from her black eyes, and the Judge calmly returned her salutation, and asked her how she was getting on.
“All right,” she said, coolly, “but I’ve been studyin’ all night an’ all day.”
“That is a foolish proceeding,” he remarked, warmly.
“There’s such a heap to learn,” she said, wearily. “Seems as if I can’t ever ketch up to it.”
“One thing at a time,” said the Judge. “You are young yet, and, I hope, have many years before you. But you must not sit up at night.”