CHAPTER IX. THE DEATH.

efolksbelieveanythingails'em!" "Well,really,"saidCripps,"thisisreally—why,itan'tcomfortable!darnedifitis!Why,I'msorryaboutthegal!Imeanttosteamherup,ordonesomethingwithher.What'swetodonow?" "Prettylikelyyoudon'tknow!Folkslikeyou,datnevertendstonothinggood,isalwaysflusteredwhendeMasterknocksatdedo'!Iknowswhattodo,though.I'sboun'togetupdecrittur,andgouptodeoldplantation,andbringdownawomananddosomethingforher,kindofdecent.Youmindthechil'entillIcomeback." Tifftookdownanddrewonoverhisoutergarmentacoarse,light,woollencoat,withverylongskirtsandlargebuttons,inwhichhealwaysarrayedhimselfincasesofspecialsolemnity.Stoppingatthedoorbeforehewentout,helookedoverCrippsfromheadtofoot,withanairofpatronizingandhalf-pitifulcontempt,anddeliveredhimselfasfollows: "Now,mas'r,I'sgwineup,andwillbebackquickaspossibleandnowdopraybedecent,andletdatarwhiskeyaloneforonedayinyourlife,and'memberdeath,judgment,and'ternity.Justact,now,asifyou'dgotastreakofsomethinginyou,suchasamanoughtfortohavewhoismarriedtooneofdeveryfustestfamiliesinoldVirginny.'Flect,now,onyourlatterendmaybewilldoyourpooroldsoulsomegoodanddon'tyougofortowakingupthechil'enbeforeIgetsback.They'lllearndetroublesoonenough." Crippslistenedtothisorationwithastupid,bewilderedstare,gazingfirstatthebed,andthenattheoldman,whowassoonmakingallthespeedhecouldtowardsCanema. Ninawasnothabituallyanearlyriser,butonthismorningshehadawakedwiththefirstpeepofdawn,and,findingherselfunabletogotosleepagain,shehaddressedherself,andgonedowntothegarden. Shewaswalkingupanddowninoneofthealleys,thinkingovertheperplexitiesofh