Bad Hugh

'Lina had talked so fast that Mrs. Worthington had been unable to put in

a word; but it did not matter. 'Lina was invulnerable to all she could

say, and it was in vain that she pleaded for Rocket, or reminded the

ungrateful girl of the many long, weary nights, when Hugh had sat by her

bedside, holding her feverish hands and bathing her aching head. This

was very kind and brotherly, 'Lina admitted; but she steeled her heart

against the still, small voice, which whispered to her: "Redeem Rocket,

and let Hugh find him here when he gets home."

'Lina wrote to Alice Johnson herself that morning, went to Frankfort

that afternoon, to Versailles and Lexington the next day, and on the

morning of the third day after the receipt of Mrs. Johnson's letter,

Spring Bank presented the appearance of one vast show-room, so full it

was of silks and muslins and tissues and flowers and ribbons and laces,

while amid it all, in a maze of perplexity as to what was required of

her, or where first to commence, Adah Hastings sat, a flush on her fair

cheeks, and a tear half dimming the luster of her eyes as thoughts of

Willie crying for mamma at home, and refusing to be comforted even by

old Sam came to her.

When 'Lina first made known her request to Adah, to act as her

dressmaker, Aunt Eunice had objected, on the ground of Adah's illness

having been induced by overwork, but 'Lina insisted so strenuously,

promising not to task her too much, and offering with an air of extreme

generosity to pay three shillings a day, that Adah had consented, for

pretty baby Willie wanted many little things which Hugh would never

dream of, and for which she could not ask him. Three shillings a day for

twelve days or more seemed like a fortune to Adah, and so she tore

herself away from Willie's clinging arms and went willingly to labor for

the capricious 'Lina, ten times more impatient and capricious since she

"had come into possession of property."

Womanlike, the sight of 'Lina's dresses awoke in Adah a thrill of

delight, and she entered heartily into the matter without a single

feeling of envy.

"I's goin', too. Did you know that?" Lulu said to her as she sat bending

over a cloud of lace and soft blue silk.

"Do you want to go?" Adah asked, and Lulu replied: "Not much. Miss 'Lina will be so lofty. Jes' you listen and hear her

call me oncet. 'Ho Loo-loo, come quick,' jes' as if she done nothin' all

her life but order a nigger 'round. I knows better. I knows how she done

made her own bed, combed her own ha'r, and like enough washed her own

rags afore she comed here. Yes, 'Loo-loo is coming,'" and the saucy

wench darted off to 'Lina screaming loudly for her.