"Po' lil' honey," was all the complacent "bear" said in reply, without
altering her methods in the least.
"Well," said Beverly threateningly, with a shake of her head, "be
careful, that's all. Have you heard the news?"
"Wha' news, Miss Bev'ly?"
"We're going back to Washin'ton."
"Thank de Lawd! When?"
"I don't know. I've just this instant made up my mind. I think we'll
start--let's see: this is the sixth of August, isn't it? Well, look and
see, if you don't know, stupid. The tenth? My goodness, where has the
time gone, anyway? Well? we'll start sometime between the eleventh and
the twelfth."
"Of dis monf, Miss Bev'ly?"
"No; September. I want you to look up a timetable for me to-day. We must
see about the trains."
"Dey's on'y one leavin' heah daily, an' hit goes at six in de
mo'nin'. One train a day! Ain' 'at scan'lous?"
"I'm sure, Aunt Fanny, it is their business--not ours," said Beverly
severely.
"P'raps dey mought be runnin' a excuhsion 'roun' 'baout Septembeh, Miss
Bev'ly," speculated Aunt Fanny consolingly. "Dey gen'ly has 'em in
Septembeh."
"You old goose," cried Beverly, in spite of herself.
"Ain' yo' habin' er good time, honey?"
"No, I am not."
"Fo' de lan's sake, Ah wouldn' s'picioned hit fo' a minnit. Hit's de
gayest place Ah mos' eveh saw--'cept Wash'ton an' Lex'ton an'
Vicksbu'g."
"Well, you don't know everything," said Beverly crossly. "I wish you'd
take that red feather out of my hat--right away."
"Shall Ah frow hit away, Miss Bev'ly?"
"We--ll, no; you needn't do that," said Beverly, "Put it on my
dressing-table. I'll attend to it."
"Wha's become o' de gemman 'at wo' hit in the fust place? Ah ain' seen
him fo' two--three days."
"I'm sure I don't know. He's probably asleep. That class of people never
lose sleep over anything."
"'E's er pow'ful good-lookin' pusson," suggested Aunt Fanny. Beverly's
eyes brightened.
"Oh, do you think so?" she said, quite indifferently. "What are you
doing with that hat?"
"Takin' out de featheh--jes' as--"
"Well, leave it alone. Don't disturb my things, Aunt Fanny. How many
times must I tell you--"
"Good Lawd!" was all that Aunt Fanny could say.
"Don't forget about the time-tables," said Beverly, as she sallied forth
for her walk in the park.