All afternoon she had chuckled to herself. All afternoon, the three of them,--for even Major Conway joined in, and helped work and arrange things--talked it over as they planned. His face was clear now, and calm, as in the old days. Even the old servant could see he had determined to win in the fight. "Marse Ned's hisse'f ag'in," she would say to him encouragingly--"Marse Ned's hisse'f--an' Zion's by his side, yea, Lord, the Ark of the Tabbernackle!" For the last time she surveyed the little rooms of the cottage. How clean and fresh it all was, and how the old mahogany of Millwood set them off! And now all was ready. It was nearly dark when she reached the mill. It had not yet closed down, and lights began to blaze first from one window, then another. She could hear the steam and the coughing of the exhaust pipe. This was all the old woman had hoped--to be in time for Helen when the mill closed. But one thing was in her way, or she had taken her as she did Lily: She did not know where Helen's room was in the mill. There was no fear in the old nurse's heart. She had taken Lily, she would take Helen. She would show the whole tribe of them that she would! But in which room was the elder sister? So she walked again into the main office, fearless, and with her head up. For was she not Zion, the Lord's chosen, the sanctified one, and the powers of hell were naught? No one was in the office but Jud Carpenter, and to her surprise he treated her with the utmost courtesy. Indeed, his courtesy was so intense that any one but Zion, who, being black, knew little of irony and less of sarcasm, might have seen that Jud's courtesy was strongly savored of the two. "Be seated, Madam," he said with a profound bow. "Be seated, Upholder of Heaven, Chief-cook-an'-bottle-washer in the Kingdom to come! An' what may have sent the angel of the Lord to honor us with another visit?" The old woman's fighting feathers arose instantly:-- "The same that sent 'em to Sodom an' Gomarrer, suh," she replied. "Ah," said Jud apologetically, "an' I hope we won't smell any brimstone to-night." "If you don't smell it to-night, you'll smell it befo' long. And now look aheah, Mister White Man, no use for you an' me to set here a-jawin' an' 'spu'tin'. I've come after my other gyrl an' you know I'm gwine have her!" "Oh, she'll be out 'torectly, Mrs. Zion! Jes' keep yo' robes on an' hol' yo' throne down a little while. She'll be out 'torectly." There was a motive in this lie, as there was in all others Jud Carpenter told. It was soon apparent. For scarcely had the old woman seated herself with a significant toss of her head when the mill began to cease to hum and roar.