June started, and jumped down from the fence, and ran into the house with great frightened eyes. "I just didn't mean to, noways, missus. I want to see Massa Linkum, an' he look at me, an' I done forget eberyting. O missus, don't beat me dis yere time, an' I'll neber--" But Madame Joilet interrupted her with a box on the ear, and dragged her upstairs. There was a terrible look on Madame's face. Just what happened upstairs, I have not the heart to tell you. That night, June was crouched, sobbing and bruised, behind the kitchen stove, when Creline came in on an errand for her mistress. Madame Joilet was obliged to leave the room for a few minutes, and the two were alone together. June crawled out from behind the stove. "I see him,--I see Massa Linkum, Creline." "De Lord bress him foreber'n eber. Amen!" exclaimed Creline fervently, throwing up her old thin hands. June crept a little nearer, and looked all around the room to see if the doors were shut. "Creline, what's he done gone come down here fur? Am he de Messiah?" "Bress yer soul, chile! don' ye know better'n dat ar?" "Don' know nuffin," said June sullenly. "Neber knows nuffin; 'spects I neber's gwine to. Can' go out in de road to fine out,--she beat me. Can' ask nuffin,--she jest gib me a push down cellar. O Creline, der's sech rats down dar now,--dar is!" "Yer poor critter!" said Creline, with great contempt for her ignorance. "Why, Massa Linkum, eberybody knows 'bout he. He's done gone made we free,--whole heap on we." "Free!" echoed June, with puzzled eyes. "Laws, yes, chile; 'pears like yer's drefful stupid. Yer don' b'long--" Creline lowered her voice to a mysterious whisper, and looked carefully at the closed door,--"yer don' b'long to Missus Jolly no more dan she b'long to you, an' dat's de trufe now, 'case Massa Linkum say so,--God bress him!" Just then Madame Joilet came back. "What's that you're talking about?" she said sharply. "June was jes' sayin' what a heap she tink ob you, missus," said Creline with a grave face. June lay awake a long time that night, thinking about Massa Linkum, and the wonderful news Creline had brought, and wondering when Madame Joilet would tell her that she was free.