"My lan'!" whispered Estralla.
There was a dress of blue delaine with tiny white dots, two pretty white
aprons, the blue cape, and shoes and stockings, beside some of Sylvia's
part-worn underwear. She had begged her mother to let her give the
little darky these things, and Mrs. Fulton had been glad that her little
daughter wished to do so.
"Estralla has never had ANYTHING," Sylvia had urged, "and she is always
afraid of something. Of being whipped or sold. And I would like to see her
have clothes like other girls."
Estralla wanted to try on the shoes at once, and when she found that
they fitted very comfortably, she chuckled and laughed with delight.
Neither of the girls heard a rap at the door, and both were surprised
when Aunt Connie, who had opened the door and stood waiting, exclaimed:
"Fo' lan's sake! Wat you lettin' that darky dress up in you' clo'es fer,
Missy Sylvia?"
"They are her own clothes now, Aunt Connie," Sylvia explained. "My
mother said I might give them to her."
For a moment the negro woman stood silent. Then she put her hands up to
her face and began to cry, very quietly. Estralla's laughter vanished.
She wondered if her mammy was going to tell her that she could not keep
the things.
"'Scusie, Missy," muttered Aunt Connie; "you'se an angel to my po'
little gal. An' I'se 'bliged to you. But I'se feared the chile won't
wear 'em long. Massa Robert Waite's man sez he's gwine sell her off
right soon."
"He cyan't do no sech thing.
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