When the preparations were all made, Mammy Grace and old Simon were let
into the secret. Whether they said any thing by way of discussion
I do not know--at any rate, it did not alter Tidy's determination.
I think, however, that she found her two aged friends very useful in aiding
her last movements; and when the eventful moment arrived, and Tidy,
attired in Miss Amelia's garments, with a traveling-bag in her hand,
containing her hymn-book, her money, and a few needed articles,
stood at the foot of the walk that led into the public road, Mammy Grace
stood with her in the starlight of the early summer's morning,
and bade her God-speed.

"Ye looks like a lady for all de world, honey; I 'clare dese
yer old eyes neber would a thought 'twas you, in dis yer
fine dress--hi, hi, hi! Specs nobody'll tink ye's run away.
De old nuss hates to part wid her chile; but ef ye must go, ye must,
and de bressed Lord go wid ye, and keep ye safe."

Then giving her a most affectionate hug, she put a paper of eatables
in her hand, and helped her to mount the horse before Uncle Simon,
who was already in the saddle. Where or how the old man procured
the horse and equipments, HE knew--but nobody else did.

The animal was a fast trotter, and brought them speedily five
miles to the village, where Tidy was to take the stage-coach
to Baltimore. It was before railroads and steam-engines
were much talked of in Virginia. Alighting in the outskirts
of the town, Simon lifted the young girl to the ground,
and hastily commending her to "de bressed Lord of heaben and earf,"
he bade her good-by, and went back to his bondage and toil.
They never saw each other again.