"Ages ago, little one. He has gotten over all that now," said Madame Vance softly. "After you have been with us awhile you will get over your rank Unionism too." Jeanne shook her head decidedly. "Dear Cherie," she said, "nothing could ever make me disloyal to my flag. See! I always carry it with me." She drew the flag from her bosom and waved it proudly before her. Madame Vance gasped, and her husband's face darkened perceptibly. "Little one, you will not carry it while here, will you? To please me, dear, never take it out again." "Oh, but I must," said Jeanne. "I promised my own dear mother that I would look at it every night and I must keep my promise. I wish I could please you, Cherie, but I cannot. But I will do this much. I will not take it out before you any more. I ought to respect your feelings, I know." "So much gained," murmured the lady aside to her husband. To Jeanne she only said quietly: "Thank you, dear. You are an amiable little thing, and you shall have my favorite darky for your maid while you are here. I will call Snowball and she will help you to dress for dinner." "Snowball," echoed Jeanne. CHAPTER XIII UNDER EVERY FLOWER THERE LURKS A SERPENT "Yes; Snowball," repeated Madame. "A quaint name, is it not? She is so black that I fancy that was the reason it was given her. She bore it when your uncle bought her. She is very bright, and a master hand at waiting upon one." Jeanne made no further remark but eagerly scanned the face of the darky as she entered. She was indeed very black, and her shining ivories were always visible in a smile. Good nature was written all over her countenance, but Jeanne could see no resemblance to Tenny. "She may not be the one after all," she mused. "Snowball," said Madame. "Miss Jeanne will be your young lady now. Your duty will be to attend to her and to look after her clothes while she is here." "Yes'm;" Snowball dropped a curtsy. "Does yer want me ter do anything now, little missy?" "Yes; help her to dress for dinner," replied Madame Vance speaking for Jeanne. "We dine at eight, my dear." Jeanne followed the black to the room which had been given her, and Snowball proceeded to brush her hair. "Snowball," said the girl suddenly, "was your mother named Tennessee? And did they call her Tenny for short?" "Bress yer soul, honey, yes," cried Snowball letting the brush fall in her astonishment. "How kum yer ter know dat?" "She was on the boat with me when I came from Memphis," replied Jeanne. "She told me all about losing you and how much she thought of you, but she thought that Colonel Peyton bought you." "Yes'm, he did. But de Kuhnel went to de wah an' he say he hab too many darkies, so he sell off all but de ones he hab de longes', an' Massa Vance bought me. What my ole mammy say?" "She loves you very much, and she misses you greatly, Snowball. I wish I could buy you and set you free. Then you could go North to live with her."