"Why, Mammy, don't you think it's becoming?"
"I won't fix hit dat way 'cause he allus said he lak hit dat way."
Natalia looked at her bewildered.
"But Morgan never saw me wear it that way. How could he know?"
"I don' mean him. I means Marse Sargent."
Natalia broke into a merry laugh and drew the old woman's face down to her own.
"You dear—old—foolish—Mammy! Of course I didn't know you were talking about Sargent Everett. Besides—what difference does he make now? I believe you were teasing me about him, anyhow. If he thought so much of me he would have come to my wedding."
Dicey shook her head unconvinced.
"Is dat all de larnin' yer done pick up in yer trabbelin', honey? Hit's 'cause he lubs yer so dat he cyant b'ar seein' yer marryin' anoder man. Dat's hit, honey-chile."
Natalia narrowed her eyes a moment; then smiled, a little wistfully.