"Old! Why, Celia is young," remarked the Major. "They say she's the best cook in town."
Aunt Minervy Ann whipped out of the room, and was gone some little time. When she returned, she had Hamp with her, and I noticed that both were laboring under excitement which they strove in vain to suppress.
"Here I is, suh," said Hamp. "'Nervy Ann say you call me."
"How is Celia to-night?" Colonel Blasengame inquired, suavely.
This inquiry, so suddenly and unexpectedly put, seemed to disconcert Hamp. He shuffled his feet and put his hand to his face. I noticed a blue welt over his eye, which was not there when he visited me in the afternoon.
"Well, suh, I speck she's tolerbul."
"Is she? Is she? Ah-h-h!" cried Aunt Minervy Ann.
"She must be pretty well," said the Major. "I see she's hit you a clip over the left eye."
"Dat's some er 'Nervy Ann's doin's, suh," replied Hamp, somewhat disconsolately.
"Den what you git in de way fer?" snapped Aunt Minervy Ann.