“Miss Jinny done say she don’ want dat speckled hen killed fo’ dinner to-morrer, suh.”
The colonel’s mouth twisted under his white mustache.
“Why not?”
“Miss Jinny, she’s been makin’ a pet ob her, yessuh. She say dat speckled hen ain’t gwine ter be killed, an’ I kin take de rooster. Miss Jinny, she say she’s fo’ woman’s rights, col’nel.”
The colonel grinned sardonically.
“You get a steak, Plato. We’ve got to stand up for our own sex. I’m going to keep that rooster.”
“Yessuh, dat we has!” Plato edged back toward the door as he heard Virginia coming. “Mis’ Wilyum Carter done run away from her husband yes’day,” he added in a stage whisper. “Mirandy, de girl dat works dere, done tole me so, yessuh!”
The colonel scowled.
“You tell Miranda to stop gossiping,” he said sharply.
Plato grinned.