And the secret did tremble on the lips of Zany. She was
not only greatly aggrieved that Chunk had "runned away" after all,
without her, and had become a sort of hero among his own kind on the
plantation, but she also felt keenly her own enforced insignificance
when she knew so much more than that Chunk had merely decamped. Her
mistress little dreamed, as the girl waited stolidly and sullenly on
the table, that she was so swelling with her secret as to be like a
powder magazine. But fear rather than faith finally sealed Zany's
lips. She was aware that the first question asked would be, "If you
knew so much, why didn't YOU tell?" and she could give no reason
which would save her from condign punishment. Moreover, she hoped
that Chunk would soon return with no end of "Linkum men," and then
her silence would be rewarded.
Supper was sent up to Miss Lou and her guest, and the old woman,
having at last some sense of security, made her first good meal
since "things began to happen." Then she hankered after her pipe.
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