"De chile lies! De chile lies! Mrs. Wakely, de chile----!" "Be quiet, Agnes," demanded Mrs. Wakely. "You are too fat to become eloquent with ease and safety." "She better be," said the washerwoman, who happened to stop at the window a few seconds. "All de coffins erbout heah is fur heabenly-sized people." Agnes, in a rage at this interruption, turned and threw the rolling-pin at the washerwoman, but she was at a safe distance. "Tesney, Agnes said that she would explain this whole affair to you." "Missus Wakely, you has knowed ole Agnes er long, long time, an' jes' as sho' as you an' me is gwine ter de same heaben, jes' so sho' I wus gwine ter tell dis chile de whole truth, but she kep' on makin' de lookin'-glass talk erbout her face an' her haih dat I jes' thought I'd fling out er little hint an' lay low." "I knew your father, Tesney; and, as Agnes says, he was a negro." "I reckons you'll beliebe now," shouted Agnes. "De white folks done said so." "Heah is yo' rollin'-pin," said the washerwoman, as she paused at the window on her return. "Hand it heah," demanded Agnes. "I will when you is ob er sweet temper," answered the washerwoman. "Please to explain about my father and the ring." "Your father, Tesney," Mrs. Wakely went on, "was reared in Mr. Bankner's family. He married a woman whom none of us, save Agnes, ever knew. Shortly after the death of your mother, he killed a man in self-defense. Mr. Bankner's people, knowing the circumstances, furnished your father money with which to escape. Mr. Bankner, a few weeks before he gave me the ring, saw your father and told him of you. Your father bought the ring, had the inscription put in it, and intended to bring it to you himself. However, at the request of Mr. Bankner he had returned to the scene of the killing for trial, and was mobbed. Mr. Bankner secured the ring before his death, and gave it to me for you. Now, as we are to leave for the West within a year, Mr. Bankner would like to have you serve in his family. He holds himself somewhat responsible for your father's death, and would like to help you. I would have told you this before, but Agnes asked me to leave it to her." Mrs. Wakely now left the room, giving Agnes a stern look on her way out. "Aunt Agnes," sobbed Tesney, "I have been deceived as to my father, and maybe as to my mother." "Has you bin deceibed in me too, chile?" "Yes." "Den ma'ry George, an' be deceibed in him." "It cannot be, Aunt Agnes." "Now I'll say de res' ob dat speech I tol' you erbout. You may ma'ry George yit. Mr. Bankner may heah from dis. He _shall_ heah from it. Do you think he'd ever let you stay in his house den?" Tesney left the room in silence.