“The North and the South are very different,” Miss Laura said, looking perplexedly at the child.
Hazel called them Miss Jane and Miss Laura when she said good-bye. She held out her hand a little shyly to Miss Jane, fearing that might be impertinent in the South. But Miss Jane took it, and stroked her coat, and told her to come again, and Miss Laura shook hands too, and sent a message to Aunt Ellen. Then, the good-bye over, in proper southern fashion the little colored girl went out the back door.
Marty was not communicative, like her mistress, and scarcely spoke as they walked along the dark road. When they had gone a short distance past her cabin a boy appeared ahead of them.
“Hazel,” he called.
“Scip,” she answered, and ran to him.
He caught her roughly. “Where you been?” he asked.
“I was lost, Scip, and I asked Miss Jane and Miss Laura the way home, and I had to wait until Marty could come home with me.”
“Reckon I can leave you now,” Marty said, and with an interchange of good-nights she turned back.
“Was Granny worried, Scip?” Hazel asked. “Did she send you for me?”
“In course she were worried. You hadn’t ought to be out at night alone.”