“Niggers ob dis here settlement is good mans, ebery von,” said Poopy, promptly.
“Hallo! Kickup, wot’s wrong? I never heard ye say so much at one time since I came to this place.”
“Niggers is good peepils,” reiterated the girl.
“So they are, Puppy, and you’re the best of ’em; but I was speakin’ of the fellers on the other side of the island, d’ye see?”
“Hee! hee!” ejaculated the girl.
“Well, but what makes you so anxious?” said Alice, looking earnestly into the boy’s face.
Corrie laid his hand on her head and stroked her fair hair as he replied—
“This is a serious matter, Alice; I must go at once and see your father about it.”
He rose with an air of importance, as if about to leave the kitchen.
“Oh! but please don’t go till you have told me what it is; I’m so frightened,” said Alice; “do stay and tell me about it before you go to papa.”