"'Pon my word," said the mischievous Rondeau, "I ain't poking fun at you.
I do really think so. I thought of it last Sunday, when you had on that
new gown, that becomes you so well."
"Which one?" said Aunt Dilsey, a little mollified, "the blue and yaller
one?"
"The same," answered Rondeau. "It fits you good. Your arm looks real small
in it."
Leffie was nearly convulsed with laughter, for she had tried the
experiment, and found that the distance round her mother's arm was just
the distance round her own slender waist.
"Do tell!" said Aunt Dilsey, stopping from her work and wiping the drops
of perspiration from her shining forehead. "Do tell! It feels drefful
sleek on me, but my old man Claib says it's too tight."
"Not an atom too tight," answered Rondeau, at the same time getting nearer
and nearer to Leffie, and laying his hand on her shoulder.
Before she was aware of his intention, he stole the kiss he was seeking
for. Leffie rewarded him by spitting in his face, while Aunt Dilsey called
out, "Ain't you 'shamed to act so, Leffie? Don't make a fool of yourself!"
Assured by this speech, Rondeau turned, and kissing Aunt Dilsey herself,
was off just in time to escape a basin of hot suds which that
highly-scandalized lady hurled after him.
"I'll tell marster this minute," said she, "and see if he hain't got
nothin' to set the lazy lout a-doin'." So saying, the old lady waddled
into the house, and going upstairs, knocked at Dr. Lacey's door.
"Come in," said the doctor, and Aunt Dilsey entered. In a very sad tone,
she commenced telling how "that 'tarnal Rondeau was raising Cain in the
kitchen. He's kissed Leffie, and me too!"
"Kissed you, has he?" said Dr. Lacey.
"Yes, sar, he done that ar very thing, spang on the mouth," said Dilsey.
"Well, Dilsey," said the doctor with a roguish twinkle of the eye, "don't
you think he ought to be paid?"
Aunt Dilsey began to cry, and said, "I never thought that marster would
laugh at old Aunt Dilsey."
"Neither will I," said the doctor. Then tossing her a picayune, he said,
"take that, Aunt Dilsey. I reckon it will pay for the kiss. I'll see that
Rondeau does not repeat his offense, on you at least."
Aunt Dilsey went back to the kitchen, thinking that "Marster George was
the funniest and best marster on earth."