"A boy want to see me," said Fanny; "who can it be?"
"Reckon he's from yer home 'case he says how he belongs to Marster
Middleton," said the negro girl.
"Oh, joy!" exclaimed Fanny, "somebody from home; how glad I am. Come,
Julia, won't you go down, too?"
"No, indeed," said Julia, scornfully, "I am not so anxious to see a greasy
nigger. I hope you will not take it into your head to ask him up here."
But Fanny did not answer, for she was already half-way down the stairs.
Going to the kitchen she found Ike and seemed as delighted to see him as
though his skin had been snowy white. Ike delivered all his messages and
then presented Aunt Judy's pie.
"Dear Aunt Judy," said Fanny, "how kind she is." Then seizing a knife she
cut a liberal piece for Ike, who received it with many thanks.
"Now, Ike," said she, "you must remain here until I go out and get a
ribbon for Aunt Judy's cap, and some tobacco for old Aunt Katy." So saying
she ran upstairs to her room.
When she entered it, Julia exclaimed, "In the name of the people, what
have you got now?"
"Oh, a pie, which Aunt Judy sent me," said Fanny.
"How ridiculous," answered Julia; "I don't think Mrs. Crane would thank
Aunt Judy for sending pies to her house."
"Mrs. Crane need know nothing about it, and would not care if she did,"
said Fanny, and then she added, "Ike is downstairs, and he says father is
coming after us in two or three weeks."
"Good heavens," said Julia; "what is he coming for? Why does he not send a
servant?"
"And why cannot father come?" asked Fanny.
"Because," answered Julia, "who wants that old codger here? A pretty
figure he'd cut, I think. I should be ashamed of him; and so would you, if
you knew anything."
"I know he is odd," said Fanny; "but he is my father, and as such I would
not be ashamed of him."
"Well, I am ashamed to own that he is my father, anyway," answered Julia;
"but where are you going now?" she continued, as she saw her sister
putting on her bonnet.
"I am going to buy some ribbon for Aunt Judy, some tobacco for Aunt Katy,
and some candy for the children," answered Fanny.