"Would he hire me out, Missy?" she asked eagerly.
"My, no!" answered Sylvia, and before she could explain the generosity
of Estralla's owner, the little darky was wailing and sobbing: "I knowed
I'd be sold! I knowed it."
"Keep still, Estralla! Mr. Waite says I may have you without paying him.
Just as long as I live in his house he said you were to be my maid!
Oh, Estralla! He was just as kind and polite as if I had been a grown-up
young lady," said Sylvia with enthusiasm.
"Yas'm, I reckons he would hafter be, 'cos he's a Carolinian gen'man.
I'se mighty glad he gives me to you, Missy. I reckon my mammy's gwine to
be glad," and Estralla, quite forgetting that there was such a thing as
trouble in the world, danced along beside her new mistress.
Sylvia hurried home, eager to tell her mother of her wonderful new
friend, and of Flora's departure to the plantation.
Mrs. Fulton listened in surprise. But when Sylvia finished her story of
Mr. Waite's kindness, declaring that he was just like Santa Claus, she
did not reprove her for going on such an errand without permission, but
agreed with her little daughter that Mr. Robert Waite was a very kind
and generous gentleman.
Aunt Connie was as delighted as it was possible for a mother to be who
knows that her youngest child is safe under the same roof with herself.
She tried to thank Sylvia for protecting Estralla, but Sylvia was too
happy over her success to listen to her.
When Grace returned from school Sylvia ran over and told her all about
her Uncle Robert's kindness.
Pages:
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111