?" Mandy Ann cried, jerking her
apron from her head.

"In the natural sequence of things you belong to the little girl," the
Colonel replied, adding, "I might buy you--"

But he got no further. All of Mandy Ann's animosity, when Ted suggested
that the man from the North had come to buy her, and she had begged her
mistress to save her from such a fate, had returned, and she exclaimed
vehemently, "Fo' de Lawd, not dat ar. Lemme stay hyar. You 'members Ted,
de colored boy on de 'Hatty.' We's kep' company, off an' on, a year,
sometimes quarrelin', and den makin' up. I can't leave Ted."

Her soul was in her eyes, as she begged for herself and Ted, and the
Colonel hastened to say, "You did not let me finish. I couldn't buy you,
if I would, and if I did I'd set you free. I will see that this is done
some time."

"Bress you, Mas'r, for dat ar," Mandy Ann began, but the Colonel stopped
her by saying, "You are young to be keeping company."

"I'se 'most as ole as Miss Dory when lill chile was born," was the
reply, which silenced the Colonel with regard to her age.

He had quite a liking for Mandy Ann, and meant to do all he could for
her and Jake, and after some further conversation it was arranged that
she should stay with the latter, the Colonel promising to see that her
wages were paid, and saying that she could keep the money for herself.
He was certainly acting generously towards the two blacks, who would
have been happy but for the parting with the child, which weighed so
heavily upon them. There was not much time left, for the "Hatty" sailed
early the next morning, and the Colonel must be on board that night.

Great as was their grief it was nothing compared to the antagonism of
the child, when she heard she was to go with the Colonel, and leave Jake
and Mandy Ann behind. She would _not_ go, she said, and fought like a
little tiger when that evening the Colonel came for her, and Mandy Ann
tried to dress her for the journey. Under the table, and lounge, and
chairs she crawled in her efforts to hide, and finally springing into
Jake's lap begged him to keep her, promising to be good and never call
him nor Mandy Ann niggers again, and nearly breaking Jake's heart with
her tears and pretty coaxings. At last worn out with excitement, and
feeling that the battle was against her, she sobbed, "Go wid me, Shaky,
if I goes."

"I 'spects I'll hev to go part way--say to Savannah--ef you gets her off
quiet. Thar's that in her wi