This was Mandy Ann's master-stroke at good manners. She had seen such
things at "Miss Perkins's" in Jacksonville, and had once or twice taken
a card on a silver tray to that lady, and why not bring the fashion to
her own home, if it were only a log-cabin, and she a bare-foot,
bare-legged waitress, instead of Mrs. Perkins's maid Rachel, smart in
slippers and cap, and white apron. For a moment the stranger's face
relaxed into a broad smile at the ludicrousness of the situation. Mandy
Ann, who was quick of comprehension, understood the smile and hastened
to explain.

"I done larn't a heap of things at Miss Perkins's, which we can't do
hyar, 'case of ole Miss bein' so quar. Miss Dory'd like 'em right well."

"Certainly," the stranger said, beginning to have a good deal of respect
for the poor slave girl trying to keep up the dignity of her family.

Taking a card from his case he handed it to Mandy Ann, who looked at it
carefully as if reading the name, although she held it wrong side up.
There was no silver tray to take it on--there was no tray at all--but
there was a china plate kept as an ornament on a shelf, and on this
Mandy Ann placed the card, and then darted up the stairs, finding her
mistress nearly dressed, and waiting for her.

"Oh, his card? He gave it to you?" Eudora said, flushing with pleasure
that he had paid her this compliment, and pressing her lips to the name
when Mandy Ann did not see her.

"In course he done gin it to me. Dat's de way wid de quality both Souf
and Norf. We livin' hyar in de clarin' doan know noffin'." Mandy Ann
replied.