The inexorable old
lady, however, never acted from passion. She nodded coldly to the
overseer, saying, "I will inform Mr. Baron and he will give you your
orders in regard to the offenders."
Zany was too alert not to observe the interview and the omens of
trouble in the compressed lips of "ole miss" and the steel-like
gleam of her eyes. The moment Mrs. Baron was closeted with her
husband the girl sped to the cabin. "Did you tell Perkins Chunk been
yere?" she demanded fiercely.
"Fo' de Lawd I des gwine all ter pieces," gasped Aun' Jinkey.
"Hope ter grashus yer does, en de pieces neber come tergedder agin,"
said Zany in contemptuous anger and deep alarm.
Under the spur of tremendous excitement she hastened back, thinking
as she ran, "Miss Lou too sick ter do anyting. I des got ter 'peal
ter Miss Whately, er ole miss hab me whipped haf ter daith." When in
response to a timid knock Mrs. Whately peered out of her niece's
room she found a trembling suppliant with streaming eyes.
Noiselessly shutting the door the matron said warningly:
"Don't you know Miss Lou's life depends on quiet?"
"How she gwine ter hab quiet w'en ole miss gwine ter hab Marse
Perkins whip me'n Aun' Jinkey ter daith?"
"Nonsense! Why should either of you be punished?"'
"Well missus, I 'fess ter you," sobbed Zany, "kaze you got more
feelin' fer us.
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