“No, suh, dey ain’t, needer. I know right whar he is, an’ I’m gwine atter ’im. He’s right ’cross de street dar, colloguin’ wid dat ol’ Ceely Ensign. Dat’s right whar he is.” “Old! Why, Celia is young,” remarked the Major. “They say she’s the best cook in town.” Aunt Minervy Ann whipped out of the room and was gone some little time. When she returned, she had Hamp with her, and I noticed that both were laboring under excitement which they strove in vain to suppress. “Here I is, suh,” said Hamp. “’Nervy Ann say you call me.” “How is Celia to-night?” Colonel Blasengame inquired, suavely. This inquiry, so suddenly and unexpectedly put, seemed to disconcert Hamp. He shuffled his feet and put his hand to his face. I noticed a blue welt over his eye, which was not there when he visited me in the afternoon. “Well, suh, I ’speck she’s tolerbul.” “_Is she? Is she? Ah-h-h!_” cried Aunt Minervy Ann. “She must be pretty well,” said the Major. “I see she’s hit you a clip over the left eye.” “Dat’s some er ’Nervy Ann’s doin’s, suh,” replied Hamp, somewhat disconsolately. “Den what you git in de way fer?” snapped Aunt Minervy Ann. “Marse Tumlin, dat ar ’oman ain’t done nothin’ in de roun’ worl’. She say she want me to buy some hime books fer de church when I went to Atlanty, an’ I went over dar atter de money.” “_I himed ’er an’ I churched ’er!_” exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann. “Here de money right here,” said Hamp, pulling a small roll of shinplasters out of his pocket; “an’ whiles we settin’ dar countin’ de money, ’Nervy Ann come in dar an’ frail dat ’oman out.” “Ain’t you hear dat nigger holler, Marse Tumlin?” inquired Minervy Ann. She was in high good-humor now. “Look like ter me dey could a-heerd ’er blate in de nex’ county ef dey’d been a-lis’nin’. ’Twuz same ez a picnic, suh, an’ I’m gwine ’cross dar ’fo’ long an’ pay my party call.” Then she began to laugh, and pretty soon went through the whole episode for our edification, dwelling with unction on that part where the unfortunate victim of her jealousy had called her “Miss ’Nervy.” The more she laughed the more serious Hamp became. At the proper time he was told of the visitation that was to be made by the Ku-Klux, and this information seemed to perplex and worry him no little. But his face lit up with genuine thankfulness when the programme for the occasion was announced to him. He and Minervy Ann were to remain in the house and not show their heads until the Major or the Colonel or their guest came to the back door and drummed on it lightly with the fingers. [Illustration: In the third he placed only powder.]