Philip came slowly down the steps. He looked very sober, and Sylvia was
sure that he was thinking about Dinkie. "I don't believe he thinks
slavery is right," she thought, as Philip raised his cap, and asked if
she was ready to mount "Snap," the pony which she was to ride.

Flora and Grace were already mounted, and trotted slowly off. Sylvia and
Philip were alone on the driveway.

"Dinkie wants to see you. She's waiting down by the oak, beyond the
lake," said Sylvia. "And don't let her be whipped," she added.

The boy looked up at her quickly.

"Don't tell the girls that she sent for me," he replied. "Dinkie shan't
be whipped, or sold either." He did not thank Sylvia for her message,
and she was glad that he did not. With a brief word of direction as to
the proper manner of holding the reins, he turned toward the lake, and
Sylvia's pony trotted slowly down the drive to where Flora and Grace
were waiting.

Flora led the way past the stables, and down a broad path which led to
the negro quarters. The ponies went at a slow pace, as Flora wanted to
be sure that Sylvia was not afraid, and that she was enjoying her first
ride.

"The corn-shucking will be here," she said, pointing with her pretty
gold-mounted whip to a number of corn-cribs. "They will bring the corn
in from the fields, and we will come down in good season."

"And the moon will be full to-night," said Grace, beginning to sing: