“It’ll be berry short, honey, jes’ say ‘You Gabe Websta, come out ’en dat pore-house afore de doctahs hab a chance to ’westigate, an’ gib yer wuthless place to some ’flicted creetur dat ain’t playin’ ’possum, an’ go ter work an’ airn your livin’, an’ may de Lord hab mercy on yer soul.’”
“But Uncle Andy,” said Roy, when the old man paused for breath, “that is what a judge says when a person is sentenced to the gallows.”
“Dat tex’ ’plies to anybody, honey, ’kase we is all sinnahs, an’ we’se all got ter die.”
Roy proceeded with the epistle, softening it as much as possible, signed Andy’s name to it, stamped and addressed it, and Andy gave it to Perry to mail.
“Thanky, thanky, honey! If Gabe goes ter sleep ober dat letta I done hope de doctahs will ’westigate an’ pop him out ’n dat pore-house;” and, serenity restored, Andy was ready to sing and as soon as the sweet notes of “I’ve Been Redeemed” died away Mrs. Courtney rang the bell for prayers. Israel went to the library with the others and Perry went home.
When Ralph and James went to their room that night they stood gazing for some time from their windows upon “My Lady’s Manor,” beautiful under the light of the full moon. From the servants’ quarters could be heard the same plaintive airs to which they had listened that evening, accompanied by banjo and violin, and they expressed to each other the wish that they might see the place before returning to Baltimore.
“Uncle Val,” said Cecil the next morning, “may we go to ‘My Lady’s Manor?’ Ralph and James would like to see it.”
A look of pain crossed Mr. Courtney’s face, but he gave permission. “I have a message,” he continued, “and now is perhaps the best time to send it; while there, please tell the servants of the death of Miss Anna Ashburton; they loved her and should no longer be kept in ignorance of it.”
Breakfast finished, the four boys hurried away, and as they drew near Mrs. Ashley’s cottage they saw Hilda Brinsfield standing at the gate with a white rabbit in her arms.
“What a beautiful little girl,” said Ralph in a low tone; “she is the loveliest creature I ever saw.”