“An’ I s’pose female gen’lemans am de same.”
“Of course! Go on,” replied the girl, with a faint smile.
“Well, as I was ’bout to say, you mus’ promise me on your word ob honour, dat you’ll neber go alone to see your fadder, but allers in company wid Sally; dat you neber, neber speak to him, an’ dat you neber make you’self know’d to him till de right time comes.”
“These are hard conditions, Peter, but I see the reasonableness of them all, and promise—at least I promise to do my best.”
“Das ’nuff, Geo’giana. Neezer man nor womans kin do more’n deir best. Now I mus’ bid you good-day, so keep up your heart an’ you’ll see eberyt’ing come right in de end.”
With these cheering words the sympathetic negro took his leave; and Hester, resuming her embroidery, sat down at her little window, not to work, but to gaze dreamily at the beautiful sea, and cast about in her mind how she should act in order to alleviate if possible her father’s sad condition.
That very afternoon she received a visit from her stolid but affectionate friend Sally, who at once said that she knew of a splendid plan for doing him a great deal of good.
“And what is your plan?” asked Hester eagerly.
“Gib him two or t’ree biscuits,” said Sally.
Her friend received the suggestion with a look of disappointment.