"Wat yo' mammy say 'bout my bein' yo' maid?" questioned the little
darky.
"Oh, it will be all right. I am going to ask Grace and Flora to go
sailing this afternoon, and I'll keep on to Mr. Robert Waite's and have
it all settled this morning," Sylvia replied, putting on her pretty new
hat.
"You may come, too," she added.
"Yas, Missy. Wat yo' reckon Massa Robert gwine to say?" questioned
Estralla earnestly.
"I think I will take the money," Sylvia said, not answering Estralla's
question; "then Mr. Waite will be sure that I can pay him."
Mrs. Fulton saw Sylvia, closely followed by Estralla, running across the
garden toward the house where Grace Waite lived.
"Poor little darky! What will she do when Sylvia goes north?" she
thought. For Mr. Fulton had told her that very morning that he was sure
South Carolina would secede from the Union, and then northern men would
no longer be welcome in Charleston. That meant of course that the
Fultons would have to return to Boston, if that were possible, but all
communication with northern states might be prevented. It was no wonder
that Mr. and Mrs. Fulton were anxious and worried.
Grace was ready to start for school when Sylvia and Estralla arrived,
and her mother gave her consent at once for her to go sailing in the
afternoon.
"The Christmas holidays will soon be here, so a half day out of school
will not matter," Mrs. Waite said smilingly, and gave Grace a note for
Miss Patten.
"I'll walk to Flora's with you," said Grace.
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