“You are only getting your deserts,” said little Dr. Bates, drawing himself up, and trying to look dignified. “You are to be tried for stealing, and for the other awful crimes which your own conscience can best count over to you, and be sure the severest punishment of the law awaits you!” “Is that all?” said Daph, her spirit rising, “Carry me to any real gemman, and it would take more liars than ever grew to prove any such like things against poor Daph. Ise not a bit afeared to go wid you, for sartain Ise be back soon ’nough.” The children, who had been at first struck with silent astonishment, now began to realize that Daph was actually going from them. Louise burst into a violent fit of weeping, and clung to the unfortunate negro, while Charlie, with an uplifted wash-basin, made a sudden attack upon the slender legs of Dr. Bates, which broke up his dignified composure, and made him give a skip that would have done honor to a bear dancing on a hot iron plate. “Now, Mass’ Charley, Ise do be shamed,” said Daph, subduing the grin that had suddenly overspread her face. “De young gemman don’t know no better! ’Tain’t likely he ever had body to teach him! You jus let him be, Mass’ Charlie, and tend to your own sister, Miss Lou, here. Don’t cry, pretty dear, Daph will be back soon! De Lord won’t let em hurt Daph! You be jus good childen, and dat sweet Miss Rose will comfort you till Daph comes home.” The last words were hardly uttered, when the negro was forced into a long covered wagon and rapidly borne away from the door. At this moment Mary Ray ran breathlessly up the steps, exclaiming, “Where have they taken Daph, mother? Mother, what is the matter?” “Matter enough!” said Mrs. Ray, vehemently; “who could have told it would have ended that way! I am sure I never meant any such thing. Daph’s gone to prison; and just as likely I shall never hear the end of it, and have the children upon my hands, into the bargain. Well, well; I wish I’d never set eyes on that little spinky, Dr. Bates!” The bitter reproaches that rose to Mary’s lips, were hushed at the mention of the children; and she hastened to comfort them, as well as she could, while Mrs. Ray went back to her kitchen, in no very enviable frame of mind. XI. Another Friend. “Dis don’t be de cleanest place in de world!” said Daph to herself, as she looked round the small, bare room into which she had been thrust. “Well,” she continued, “de Lord Jesus, do be everywhere; and Daph no reason to be above stayin where such as he do set foot. But den de childen! what’s to become of de childen?” Here Daph’s resolution gave way, and she took a hearty cry. “Daph, you do be a wicked creter,” she said to herself, at length. “Jus as if de Lord Jesus didn’t love little childen ebber so much better dan you can! He’s jus able hisself to take care ob de dears; and Daph needn’t go for to fret hersef bout dem.”