Dinner was served two hours later than usual--a fact in itself very
disturbing to Mr. Baron; while Aun' Suke, compelled to cook again
for the Confederate troopers, was in a state of suppressed
irritation, leading her satellites to fear that she might explode.
Small, pale and bloodless as "ole miss" appeared, none of her
domestics dared to rebel openly; but if any little darky came within
the reach of Aun' Suke's wooden spoon, she relieved her feelings
promptly. In dining-room and kitchen, therefore, was seething and
repressed excitement. The very air was electric and charged with
rumors.
Perkins, the overseer, was at his wits' end, also, about the field-
hands. They were impassive or sullen before his face, and abounding
in whispers and significant glances behind his back. What they knew,
how much they knew, he could not discover by any ingenuity of
questioning or threatening, and he was made to feel that excessive
harshness might lead to serious trouble. Disturbing elements were on
all sides, in the air, everywhere, yet he could not lay his finger
on any particular culprit.
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