“Ha-ha-hain’t I s-s-seen her afore?”
“I think not,” answered Frederic, and with a doubtful shake of the head, Josh attempted to lead Bruno away.
But Bruno would not move, and he clung so obstinately to Marian that she arose, and patting his side, said playfully:
“I shall be obliged to go with him, I guess. Lead the way, boy.”
With eyes protruding like saucers, Josh turned back, followed by Marian and Bruno, the latter of whom offered no resistance when his mistress bade him enter his kennel, though he made wondrous efforts to escape when he saw that she was leaving him.
“In the name of the Lord,” exclaimed Hetty, shading her eyes with her hand, to be sure she was right, “if thar ain’t the young lady shettin’ up the dog. I never knowed the like o’ that.”
Then as Marian came towards the kitchen, she continued, “’Pears like I’ve seen her somewhar.”
“Ye-ye-yes,” chimed in Josh, who had walked faster than Marian. “Who-o-oo is she, Hetty?”
Marian by this time had reached the door, where she stood smiling pleasantly upon the blacks, but not daring to call them by name until she saw Dinah, who courtesied low, and coming forward asked, “Is you better this mornin’?”
“Yes, quite well, thank you. Are these your companions?” said Marian, anxious for an opportunity to talk with her old friends.