her young missus with admiration, laughed, fanned her more and more;
then grasping her little jewelled hand, pressed it to her spacious
mouth and kissed it. "Young Missus! Franconia, I does lub ye so!"
she whispers.

"Why, Aunt Rachel!" ejaculated Franconia, starting suddenly: "I am
glad you wakened me, for I dreamed of trouble: it made me
weak-nervous. Where is Clotilda?" And she stared vacantly round the
room, as if unconscious of her position. "Guess 'e aint 'bout
nowhere. Ye see, Miss, how she don't take no care on ye,-takes dis
child to stir up de old cook, when ye comes to see us." And stepping
to the stand she brings the salver; and in her excitement to serve
Missus, forgets that the coffee is cold. "Da'h he is; just as nice
as 'em get in de city. Rachel made 'em!"

"I want Clotilda, Rachel; you must bring her to me. I was dreaming
of her and Annette; and she can tell dreams-"

The old slave interrupts her. "If Miss Franconia hab had dream, 'e
bad, sartin. Old Mas'r spoil dat gal, Clotilda,-make her tink she
lady, anyhow. She mos' white, fo'h true; but aint no better den oder
nigger on de plantation," she returns. Franconia sips her coffee,
takes a waf from the plate as the old servant holds it before her,
and orders Dandy to summon Clotilda.