CHAPTER XXVI. MILLY'S RETURN.

holdofherfriend,anddrawinghertowardsthesteps."It'sashame!Comein,Milly,comein!Thatman!Iknewhewasn'ttobetrusted.So,thisisthegoodplacehefoundforyou,isit?" "Jesso,"saidTomtit,who,attheheadofadarkstreamofyoungjuveniles,cameafter,withatowelhangingoveronearm,andaknifehalfcleanedinhishand,whileRoseandOldHundred,andseveralothers,followedtotheveranda. "Laws-a-me!"saidAuntRose,"justtothinkon't!Dat'swhat'tisforoldfam'liestohirederniggersouttocommonpeople!" "Well,"saidOldHundred,"Millywasallerstoohighfeelin'heldherheaduptoomuch.An'tnowayssurprisedatit!" "Oh,go'long,youoldhominy-beetle!"saidAuntRose."Don'tknownobodydatholdsupderheadhighernoryoudoes!" Nina,afterhavingdismissedthespecialtrainofthejuvenilesandservants,begantoexamineintotheconditionofherfriend.Thearmhadevidentlybeengrazedbyabullet,producingsomewhatofadeepflesh-wound,whichhadbeenaggravatedbytheheatoftheweatherandthefatiguewhichshehadundergone.Onremovingthebandageroundherhead,anumberofdeepandsevereflesh-cutswereperceived. "What'sallthis?"saidNina. "It'swharhehitmeoverdehead!Hewasindrink,chilehedidn'twellknowwhathewas'bout!" "Whatanabominableshame!"saidNina."Lookhere,"turningroundtoAuntNesbit,"seewhatcomesofhiringMillyout!" "IamsureIdon'tknowwhat'stobedone!"saidAuntNesbit,pitifully. "Done!why,ofcourse,thesearetobebandagedandputup,inthefirstplace,"saidNina,bustlingaboutwithgreatpromptness,tearingoffbandages,andringingforwarmwater."AuntMilly,I'lldothemupforyoumyself.I'maprettygoodnurse,whenIsetaboutit." "Blessyou,chile,butitseemsgoodtogethome'mongfriends!" "Yesandyouwon'tgoawayagaininahurry!"saidNina,assheproceededrapidlywithherundertaking,washingandbandagingthewound."There,now,"shesaid,"youlooksomethinglikeandnowyoushallliedowninmyroom,andtakealittlerest!" "Thankye,honey,chil