"Does you want me, darlin'?"

"No, not now. Go and enjoy yourself with your husband and old friends."

Chloe expressed her grateful thanks, and withdrew.

Elsie found the paintings and statuary a study, and had scarcely finished
her survey of the drawing-room and its treasures of art, when Aunt Phillis
came to ask if they would have tea served up immediately.

Elsie looked at her father.

"Yes," he said; "you will feel stronger after eating, and it is about our
usual time."

"Then let us have it, Aunt Phillis. How is that poor creature now?" asked
her young mistress.

"Suse, honey? oh, she'll do well 'nuff; don't do her no harm to take some
ob de lazy blood out. Massa Spriggs not so terrible cross, Miss Elsie; but
he bound de work git done, an' Suse she mighty powerful lazy, jes' set in
de sun an' do nuffin' from mornin' to night, ef nobody roun' to make her
work."

"Ah, that is very bad; we must try to reform her in some way. But perhaps
she's not well."

"Dunno, missus; she's always 'plaining ob de misery in her back, an'
misery in her head; but don't ebery one hab a misery, some kind, most