The young woman received the paper with the greatest reverence and relief.
“Thankee, Marse Steve,” she said, with repeated bows and courtesies. “Dis will fix him. I knowed dat if I come to you, you’d tell me de law. Jerry talk like he know all de law in the wull!” Armed with her weapon, her courage was returning. “But I’ll straighten him out wid dis.” She tied her letter up in her apron with elaborate care. Suddenly her face grew grave again.
“‘Spose Jerry say he’ll trick me cuz I come to you?”
“Trick you——!” began Steve, in a tone of contempt.
“Not he himself; but dat he’ll git Doct’ Moses to do it?” Her face had grown quite pale.
“If he says he’ll trick you, tell him I’ll lick him. You come to me.”
“Yes, suh.” She was evidently much relieved, but not wholly so. “I cert’ny is feared o’ him,” she said, plaintively. “He done tricked Jane—Sherrod’s wife—and a whole lot o’ urrs,” she said. Steve knew from her face that the matter was too serious to be laughed at.
“You tell Jerry that if he dares to try it, or even threatens you with it, I’ll lick the life out of him and discharge him. And as for Moses——” His face darkened.
“I don’t want you to do that,” she said, quickly.