"
Now, as she caught sight of Betty, she laid aside her book, wiped her eyes
on a stiffly folded handkerchief, and became cheerful at once. "I warned
Mr. Lightfoot not to dare to show his face without you," she began; "so I
suppose he brought you off by force."
"I was only too glad to come," replied Betty, kissing her; "but what must I
do for you first? Shall I rub your head with bay rum?"
"There's nothing on earth the matter with my head, child," retorted Mrs.
Lightfoot, promptly, "but you may go downstairs, as soon as you take off
your things, and make me some decent tea and toast. Cupid brought me up two
waiters at dinner, and I wouldn't touch either of them with a ten-foot
pole."
Betty took off her bonnet and shawl and hung them on a chair. "I'll go down
at once and see about it," she answered, "and I'll make Car'line put away
my things. It's my old room I'm to have, I suppose."
"It's the whole house, if you want it, only don't let any of the darkies
have a hand at my tea. It's their nature to slop."
"But it isn't mine," Betty answered her, and ran, laughing, down into the
dining room.
"Dar ain' been no sich chunes sense young Miss rid away in de dead er de
night time," muttered Cupid, in the pantry. "Lawd, Lawd, I des wish you'd
teck up wid Marse Champe, en move 'long over hyer fer good en all. I reckon
dar 'ud be times, den, I reckon, dar 'ould."
"There are going to be times now, Uncle Cupid," responded Betty,
cheerfully, as she arranged the tray for Mrs.
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