So Ben went forth to battle for his own freedom, undaunted by the task before him, while Viney took care of the cabin, doing what she could outside. Armed with her new dignity, she insisted upon her friends' recognizing the change in her condition. Thus, when Mandy so far forgot herself as to address her as Viney Raymond, the new free woman's head went up and she said with withering emphasis: "Mis' Viney Allen, if you please!" "Viney Allen!" exclaimed her visitor. "Huccum you's Viney Allen now?" "'Cause I don' belong to de Raymonds no mo', an' I kin tek my own name now." "Ben 'longs to de Raymonds, an' his name Ben Raymond an' you his wife. How you git aroun' dat, Mis' Viney Allen?" "Ben's name goin' to be Mistah Allen soon's he gits his free papahs." "Oomph! You done gone now! Yo' naik so stiff you can't ha'dly ben' it. I don' see how dat papah mek sich a change in anybody's actions. Yo' face ain' got no whitah." "No, but I's free, an' I kin do as I please." Mandy went forth and spread the news that Viney had changed her name from Raymond to Allen. "She's Mis' Viney Allen, if you please!" was her comment. Great was the indignation among the older heads whose fathers and mothers and grandfathers before them had been Raymonds. The younger element was greatly amused and took no end of pleasure in repeating the new name or addressing each other by fantastic cognomens. Viney's popularity did not increase. Some rumors of this state of things drifted to Ben's ears and he questioned his wife about them. She admitted what she had done. "But, Viney," said Ben, "Raymond's good enough name fu' me." "Don' you see, Ben," she answered, "dat I don' belong to de Raymonds no mo', so I ain' Viney Raymond. Ain' you goin' change w'en you git free?" "I don' know. I talk about dat when I's free, and freedom's a mighty long, weary way off yet." "Evahbody dat's free has dey own name, an' I ain' nevah goin' feel free's long ez I's a-totin' aroun' de Raymonds' name." "Well, change den," said Ben; "but wait ontwell I kin change wid you." Viney tossed her head, and that night she took out her free papers and studied them long and carefully. She was incensed at her friends that they would not pay her the homage that she felt was due her. She was incensed at Ben because he would not enter into her feelings about the matter. She brooded upon her fancied injuries, and when a chance for revenge came she seized upon it eagerly.