"So I went back ter de paff by de lilies, an' start in ter wuk right smart. But, co'se, eve'y li'l' w'ile I 'range ter git jes enough time ter look at Mis' Simons, too, a-settin' in de arbor wid 'er book; an' praesen'ly 'mence ter look like she's 'mos' forgotten where she's at, she's a-readin' ser hard. Mus' 'a' been mo'n a hour sence Jonah went 'way, too, but she keep on a-readin', an' I keep on a-wukkin' on de paff, jes wukkin' 'long same's befo', twell bime-by I'se jes 'blige se' down an' res' a li'l' myself. But Mis' Simons she ain't look up 'tall. An' after I 'mence ter feel kine o' rested an' mo' like wuk, w'y, co'se I got up an' start in hoein' ag'in, an' dere's Mis' Simons still a-settin' dere readin' jes same's befo'! De sun's gittin' kine o' low, too, an' look like she gwine git cotch in de dark ef she ain' cyarful, so I drap my hoe in de grass an' step 'long up ter de li'l arbor an' se' down on de step. Mis' Simons kine o' start-like w'en she seen me, an' put down 'er book an' raise 'er han's up slow 'n' sleepy-like to 'er eyes. "'Wat time is it, 'Zekiel?' she say. "De clock wuz strikin' six, time I drap my hoe down in de grass, so I tole 'er 'bout it. "'Six!' she say, a-jumpin' off 'er seat. 'Six er-clock! An' ain' Jonah come? Ain't he come _yit_, 'Zekiel?' "'No'm, he ain't,' I say, 'cuz he _ain't_, so w'at else _is_ it I kin say? 'No'm, he _ain't_,' I say. "'An' he's been gone long 'nough to've gone free times at leas'!' she whisper un'er 'er bref. 'Oh, w'at is I done! Jonah, _Jonah_, w'y _doan't_ yer come back!' "'I reckon he'll be back right soon now,' I say, 'cuz cert'nly make me feel bad ter see Mis' Simons look dat-a-way. 'Doan't yer reckon he will?' I say. "But she jes shuk 'er haid awful sad 'n' slow-like. "'I'se 'fraid--I'se 'fraid sump'n's 'appen to 'im, 'Zekiel,' she answer. 'I--I sent 'im de ve'y place--where it's awful trouble--gwine on ter-day! I sent 'im, 'Zekiel, 'thout--'thout 'memberin' w'at I knowed!' "Well, I ain't r'ally know 'ow ter answer 'er dat time, so I jes didn' make no 'sponse 'tall. "'Come,' she say, 'we mus' go in de house, 'Zekiel; it's gittin' dark.' "It seem awful long after we's in de house, an' praesen'ly, it's sech a warm evenin', Mis' Simons went out on de po'ch. But she mus' 'a' feel kine o' strange 'n' lonesome, too, 'cuz praesen'ly she ax Sarah 'n' Marg'ret won't dey come out 'n' set dere fer a li'l' w'ile. "'It's time fer you ter go ter baid, ain't it, 'Zekiel?' she say; an' I jes start ter tell 'er, 'No'm, I doan' reckon 'tis,' w'en it come de stranges' noise out dere in de yard. Look like somebody's runnin' ser fas' he cyan't sca'cely breve, an' all time comin' right 'long fru de grass todes de steps. "'Mis' Simons, Mis' Simons!' somebody whisper, awful hoarse an' strange-like. An' _w'at_ yer s'pose? W'y, it's jes _Jo_-nah, a-tearin' right 'long up de steps!