She could easily understand that. It meant
that she must not let Estralla get a whipping when she had not deserved
it; and she was glad she had not told the real story of the broken
pitcher. She resolved always to remember what her father had said.
The remainder of the week passed pleasantly. Elinor Mayhew did not
return to school, and the other girls profited by her example and no
longer teased or taunted the little northern girl.
Saturday morning proved to be perfect weather for the drive to the Hayes
plantation. The sun shone, the clear October air was full of autumnal
fragrance, and when the Hayes carry-all, drawn by two pretty brown
horses, and driven by black Chris, the Hayes coachman, and Flora's black
mammy on the seat beside him, stopped in front of Sylvia's house and
Flora came running up the path, Sylvia and Grace were on the steps all
ready to start.
There was plenty of room for all three girls on the back seat, and Flora
declared that Sylvia should sit between Grace and herself. Mrs. Fulton
and Estralla stood at the gate and watched the happy little party drive
off. Estralla looked very sober. Ever since the adventure at Fort Sumter
the little colored girl had felt that she must look after Missy Sylvia
carefully. And she was not well pleased to see her young mistress
disappear from her watchful eyes.
"What a funny name 'Estralla' is," laughed Flora, as Sylvia called back
a good-bye.
"Oh, that isn't her name, really," explained Grace.
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