“Well, you tell him so, anyhow. And if I get hold of Moses, he won’t trouble you.”
“Yas, suh, I’ll tell him ef he try to trick me. ’Cus I cert’ny is feared o’ dat man.” She was going out, when Steve called her back.
“Ah! Martha? How are they all at Major Welch’s?”
“Dee’s all right well, thankee, suh,” said Martha. “Sept Miss Ruth—she ain been so mighty well lately.” Steve’s face brightened.
“Ah! What is the matter with her?” His voice was divided between solicitude and feigned indifference.
“I don’ know, indeed, suh. She’s jes sort o’ puny—jes heah lately. She don’t eat nuttin’. Dee talk ’bout sen’in’ her ’way.”
“Indeed!” Steve was conscious of a sudden sinking of the heart.
“I think she ride ’bout too much in de hot sun,” explained Martha, with the air of an authority.
“I have no doubt of it,” said Steve.
“She come home tother evenin’ right down sick, and had to go to bed,” continued Martha.