"Miss Daisy aint lookin' quite so peart as she use to look,"
Maria went on. But I slipped away from that diversion.
"Maria," I said, "you don't tell me what is the matter; and I
wish to know. What keeps the people, Pete, and Eliza and all,
from coming? What hinders them, Maria? I wish to know."
Maria busied herself with her fish for a minute, turning and
washing it; then without looking up from her work she said in
a lowered tone, —
" 'Spect de overseer, he don't hab no favour to such ways and
meetin's."
"But, with _me?_" I said; "and with aunt Gary's leave?"
"S'pose he like to fix t'ings his own way," said Maria.
"Does he forbid them to come?" I asked.
"I reckon he do," — she said, with a sigh.
Maria was very even-tempered, quiet, and wise, in her own way.
Her sigh went through my heart. I stood thinking what plan I
could take.
"De Lord is bery good, Miss Daisy," she said, cheerily a
moment after; "I and dem dat love Him, dcre can be no sort
o'separation, no ways."
"Does Mr.
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