“No, chile, sure not! Who should ribe at dis onlikely hour ob de mornin? Ledst it war de doctor. Has you sent for de doctor, honey? But Lord, indeed, chile, you better lay down agin. Don’t keep on standin’ dere holdin’ up your hair, weak as you looks, an’ I’ll run an’ see!” “Aunt Darky, I am not ill. I have had a bad night’s rest—that’s all. Go—and—” “A bad night’s res’, an’ like enough, honey! I had a _berry_ bad night’s res’ de night afore, me an’ Old Nick took up ’long o’ each oder! ’Deed chile, I was sort o’ scared an’ sorter happy, ’cause I _was_ scared! An’ deed, chile, ‘tween so many con_try_dictions, I could’n onderstan’ myself and kept awake all night! Lord, honey, it’s nat’ral! We’s all alike, ’cept ’tis de collor, an’ dat’s only outside show, skin deep. But bless you, honey, that wan’t nothin’ to the night ’resses I’se lost since dat, with long o’ cryin’ babies an’ teethin’ babies, an’ sick chillun, an’ ole man Nick comin’ home drunk ebery time ole Marse give him any holyday money to spen’ on hisself! Now praise be de Lor’, de chillun’s all raise’ an’ married an’ settle’ off, an’ I’m a free ‘oman! An’ I tell my galls how I ain’ gwine be bother’ long o’ _der_ chillun, now in my ole days!” “Aunt Darky,” said Miss Clifton, feeling in no way flattered by the parallel, “go and get my bath ready, and have a cup of strong coffee brought the instant I leave it.” “Yes, honey—an’ hadn’t de baff’s water better have de air tuk off o’ it, as you’se not so strong dis mornin’?” “Yes, yes—what makes you trouble me by questions? You ought to know what is proper to be done.” “An’ so I allus does know, honey—ony when I does my mos’ properess’, you doesn’n alluz’ see it into dat light an you fines fau’rt long o’ me,” said the old body, as she left the room. When Miss Clifton had left her warm bath, and had partaken of the rich strong coffee—strong as the essence of coffee, and made rich and thick by being half cream and sugar, and brought to her in a tiny porcelain cup, she felt sufficiently refreshed to be able, with the assistance of her woman, to make her morning toilet. When she had finished dressing it was still very early, and two hours remained before breakfast—but she left her room, and met her father, who was an early riser, in the upper hall. He came forward and kissed her. Then held both her hands, and looked in her face, exclaiming—“What! pale, my child? Oh, tut! tut! tut! tut! tut! That’s _all_ wrong! All wrong!” “Father! has he come yet?” “No, no—it’s quite early yet! He’ll be here anon! You should not have risen these two hours!” “Father, I could not sleep! I could not even lie in bed!” “Oh, pooh! pooh! pooh! All folly! All nonsense! Go back and rest.”