“Ya'as; finished ter-day; that's all safe; but er rain 'ould interfere mightily wi' pickin' out cotton up in th' swamp, 'n' it's openin, mighty fast; shouldn't be s'prised ef some er that swamp don't fetch er bale ter th' acre, 'n' we'll have er right purty lot o' cotton, even atter th' rent's paid out”; and Father Tyler, with much complacency, lighted his pipe with a coal from the hearth.
“Th' gals 'll soon ha' this erround th' house all picked out; they got purty nigh over it ter-day, 'n' ther'll likely be one more scatterin' pickin',” said Mother Tyler.
Here a starched rustling on the stairs betokened the descent of Mandy Calline. Pushing back the door, she stepped down with all the dignity which she deemed suitable to don with her present attire.
A new calico dress of a blue ground, with a bright yellow vine rambling up its lengths, adorned her round, plump figure; her glossy black hair was plaited, and surmounted with a huge red bow, the ends of which fluttered out bravely; as she stepped slowly into the room, busying herself pulling a basting out of her sleeve.
“Well, Mandy Calline,” began her mother, “ef I do say it myself, yer frock fits jest as nice as can be. Looks like ye had been melted 'n' run into it. Nice langth, too,” eying her critically from head to foot.
“Ya'as, 'm; 'n' it's comf'ble, too; ain't too tight ner nothin',” giving her shoulders a little twitch, and moving her arms a bit.
“I guess th' boys 'll ha' ter look sharp ef that gal sets 'er cap at any on 'em,” put in Father Tyler, gazing proudly at his first-born, whereupon a toss of her head set the ribbon ends fluttering as she moved with great dignity across the room to the fireplace.
“Come, let me feel, dearie,” said the old lady, softly, turning her sightless eyes toward the girl, hearing her movements in her direction.
“Ya'as, gra'mammy,” and stepping nearer, she knelt at her grandmother's feet, and leaning forward, rested her hands lightly on her shoulders.
The old wrinkled hands groped their way to the girl's face, thence downward, over her arms, her waist, to the skirt of her dress.