"I am very glad! I know Hannibal will be much happier with you
than with any one else," and she smiled brightly at the boy,
whose small sunburned face was upturned to hers.

"I think that-a-ways myself, Miss Betty, but this trial was only
for my smacking Dave Blount, who was trying to steal my nevvy,"
explained Yancy.

"I hope you smacked him well and hard!" said the girl, whose mood
was warlike.

"I ain't got no cause to complain, thank you," returned Mr. Yancy
pleasantly.

"I rode out to the Hill to say good-by to Hannibal and to you,
but they said you were here and that the trial was today."

Captain Murrell, with Crenshaw and the squire, came from the
house, and Murrell's swarthy face lit up at sight of the girl.
Yancy, sensible of the gulf that yawned between himself and what
was known as "the quality," would have yielded his place, but
Betty detained him.

"Are you going away, ma'am?" he asked with concern.

"Yes--to my home in west Tennessee," and a cloud crossed her
smooth brow.

"That surely is a right big distance for you to travel, ma'am,"