The little fellow obeyed dutifully. He was growing daily more fond of the sister who helped him with his lessons, and never scolded him for being slow, and told him secrets of what they would do together when she became famous. Her conscience smote her slightly as he trudged off, his hands in his pockets, his bag of books slung over his shoulder by a twine string, and humping his calves as he walked. He knew but one tune, and that was "Balerma." He began to whistle it as soon as he turned his back. He would whistle it all the way home. He called it, "O happy is the soul."
Flea laid the slate she had carried carefully, lest the test sum should get rubbed out, as carefully upon the stone beside her, and took Olney's Geography from her bag. The report was written upon an oblong piece of foolscap, folded once. Mr. Tayloe wrote a round, clear hand:
"October 31, 184-.
"Felicia Jean Grigsby: Lessons, usually fair. Conduct—room for improvement!
"James Tayloe."
There was a sneer for Flea in each of the three words that came after the dash. The line that emphasized them was heavy and black, and raised a welt upon her heart.
The sun had gone down, and the recessed door-step was dim with the shadows of the neglected vines overgrowing it, before she lifted her head from her knees to listen to footsteps in the dry weeds at the back of the cabin. Some laborer was probably passing by on his way home from the field. If she did not move, he would go on without seeing her. The steps came closer to her, until somebody stooped under the overhanging creepers, shutting out the light of the sky, and Flea felt hot breath upon her very face. She jumped up:
"Who are you?" she began.
A strong hand gripped her arm, another covered her mouth, and she was lifted bodily from her hiding-place. As the light showed her features the rough hold was slackened; a cracked laugh relieved her fright.
"Bless yo' soul, honey! How you skeered me! I 'clar' to gracious, I thought you was a ghos', or maybe the Old Boy hisself. I won' git over the turn you give me fur a week."