Her big figure shook with suppressed laughter. “De very idee er me keepin’ Mammy’s baby outen dis house when I carry him across dis hall in my arms de day he wuz born! An how’s all de folks, Marse John?” “About as usual, thank you, Aunt Julie Ann. How are you?” “Poorly, thank God, poorly.” “Why, what’s the matter?” She glanced furtively up into the dim moonlit gallery of the observatory and whispered: “Dey wuz terrible times here las’ night!” “What happened?” “Ghosts!” “What, again?” John laughed. “Nasah, dem wuz new ones! We got de lights all burnin’ ter-night. De Jedge, he wuz scared outen ten years growth. He been in bed all day, des now git up ter supper. Wuz Marse William well las’ night?” “As well as usual, yes; Alfred put him to bed early.” “Well, sho’s you born, his livin’ ghost wuz here! He wuz clothed an’ in his right min’ too! I hear sumfin walkin’ up in de attic ’bout leben erclock, an’ I creep out in de hall an’ look up, an’ bress de Lawd, dar stood you Pa leanin’ ober de railin’ lookin’ right at me! Well, sah, I wuz scared dat bad I couldn’t holler. I look ergin an’ dar stood yo Ma, my dead Missy, right side er him.” “Ah, Aunt Julie Ann, you were walking in your sleep.” “Nasah! I’se jist as waked as I is now. I try my bes’ ergin ter holler, but I clean los’ my breath and couldn’t. So I crawl to the Jedge’s room, an’ tell him what I see. He wuz scared most ter death, but he follow me out in de hall an’ look up. He seed ‘em too an’ drop down side er me er foamin’ at de mouf. He’s powerful scary anyhow, de Jedge is--des like us niggers. I got him ter bed and poured er big drink er licker down ‘im, an’ when he come to, he make me promise nebber ter tell nobody, an’ I promise. Cose, hit’s des like I’se talkin’ ter myself, honey, when I tell you.” “And this morning he gave orders to admit no one of the tribe of Graham inside the yard again?” “Yassah!” “Well, tell his Honour that I am here and wish to see him at once.” “Yassah, I spec he won’t come down--but I tell ‘im, sah.” She waddled up the stairs to the Judge’s room. John heard the quarrel between them. Aunt Julie Ann’s voice loud, shrill, defiant, insolent, above the Judge’s. She served him for his money and her love for the old house, but secretly she despised him as she did all poor white trash and in such moments made no effort to hide her feelings. “Bully for Aunt Julie Ann!” John chuckled. When she returned, he slipped the last piece of money he possessed into her hand and smiled. “Keep it for good luck,” he said. “Yassah! De Jedge say he be down as soon as he dresses--he all dress now but he des want ter keep you waitin’.” “I understand,” said John with a laugh. “Are you sure, Aunt Julie Ann, that the ghost of the Major you saw last night wasn’t the real man himself?” “Cose I’se sho’. Hit wuz his speret!” “Alfred says he’s walking in his sleep of late; at least he found mud on his shoes the other morning when he got up.”