Daph had not spoken very rapidly, but even as the indignant words forced themselves out of her mouth, she was hurried towards the door.
“You’d better do your talking now,” said one of the men coarsely, “for before half an hour’s over you’ll be locked up where nobody’ll hear you if you holler till you are hoarse.”
Daph began to struggle violently, and the sinewy men who held her were well nigh compelled to relinquish their grasp.
“Is you a gemman, doctor?” she said desperately, at last, “Is you a gemman, and stand still to see a poor woman treated dis way?”
“You are only getting your deserts,” said little Dr. Bates, drawing himself up, and trying to look dignified. “You are to be tried for stealing, and for the other awful crimes which your own conscience can best count over to you, and be sure the severest punishment of the law awaits you!”
“Is that all?” said Daph, her spirit rising, “Carry me to any real gemman, and it would take more liars than ever grew to prove any such like things against poor Daph. Ise not a bit afeared to go wid you, for sartain Ise be back soon ’nough.”
The children, who had been at first struck with silent astonishment, now began to realize that Daph was actually going from them. Louise burst into a violent fit of weeping, and clung to the unfortunate negro, while Charlie, with an uplifted wash-basin, made a sudden attack upon the slender legs of Dr. Bates, which broke up his dignified composure, and made him give a skip that would have done honor to a bear dancing on a hot iron plate.
“Now, Mass’ Charley, Ise do be shamed,” said Daph, subduing the grin that had suddenly overspread her face. “De young gemman don’t know no better! ’Tain’t likely he ever had body to teach him! You jus let him be, Mass’ Charlie, and tend to your own sister, Miss Lou, here. Don’t cry, pretty dear, Daph will be back soon! De Lord won’t let em hurt Daph! You be jus good childen, and dat sweet Miss Rose will comfort you till Daph comes home.”
The last words were hardly uttered, when the negro was forced into a long covered wagon and rapidly borne away from the door.
At this moment Mary Ray ran breathlessly up the steps, exclaiming, “Where have they taken Daph, mother? Mother, what is the matter?”