tell ME, Marse Tom! If animals don't talk, I miss MY guess. And
Shekels is the worst. He goes and tells the animals everything
that happens in the officers' quarters; and if he's short of facts,
he invents them. He hasn't any more principle than a blue jay; and
as for morals, he's empty. Look at him now; look at him grovel.
He knows what I am saying, and he knows it's the truth. You see,
yourself, that he can feel shame; it's the only virtue he's got.
It's wonderful how they find out everything that's going on--the
animals. They--"

"Do you really believe they do, Dorcas?"

"I don't only just believe it, Marse Tom, I know it. Day before
yesterday they knew something was going to happen. They were that
excited, and whispering around together; why, anybody could see
that they-- But my! I must get back to her, and I haven't got to my
errand yet."

"What is it, Dorcas?"

"Well, it's two or three things. One is, the doctor don't salute
when he comes . . . Now, Marse Tom, it ain't anything to laugh at,
and so--"

"Well, then, forgive me; I didn't mean to laugh--I got caught
unprepared."

"You see, she don't want to hurt the doctor's feelings, so she
don't say anything to him about it; but she is always polite,
herself, and it hurts that kind for people to be rude to them."