p for you, befo' she sets de table
or anything. You all likes melons so well, you ought to see 'em we has
down Souf. Reckon you'd jus' about bu'st you'selves, eatin' 'em."

She gave the melon one more ecstatic embrace, and dandled it fondly in
her arms for a moment; then she laid it carefully down on the table,
while she went for a knife.

"'Wa-a-atermelon!
Green rind, red meat;
All juicy, so sweet.
Dem dat has money mus' come up an' buy;
And dem dat hasn't mus' stan' back an' cry
Wa-a-a-atermelon!'"

She crooned to herself, as she returned with the knife in her hand, and
stuck it in, clear to the heart of the fruit before her.

"What's that, Janey?" asked Allie, who had followed Charlie out into the
kitchen.

"Dat? Dat's a song I done heard an ol' man singin', one day. He had some
melons to sell, out on de corner by my mudder's house, an' he kep' a
singin' it ober an' ober. Ah, dat's a fine one!" she added contentedly,
as the rich red heart of the melon appeared. She paused for a moment,
then she cocked her head on one side, as she gazed rapturously at the
great piece which Charlie offered her. "You all know how me an' my
brudder use' to eat our melons, when mammy wan' roun' to smack us?" she
inquired suddenly.

"How'd you do it?" asked Charlie, laughing.

"Dis way. See?" And clutching the piece in both hands, she buried her
face in it, and began to devour it, much as a squirrel gnaws the meat
out of a walnut.

So absorbed was she in her enjoyment of her feast, that she did not hear
the door open and Mrs. Pennypoker come into the kitchen.

"Jane!" said the strong voice.

Janey started at the sound, and choked on a seed.

"Yes, mis'," she responded as soon as she could speak, while she raised
her head from the rind.

"What are you doing?" demanded Mrs. Pennypoker sternly.

Her manner was not encouraging. There was a defiant flash in Janey's
eyes, as she said sullenly,--

"Ol' mis' done got eyes. What she s'pose I's doin'?"

"But I told you to get the lunch."

"I was goin' to, in a minute; but Mars' Charlie done wanted me to cut
his melon, an' I thought 'twouldn't make no difference."

"You are not here to think; you are here to do the work," said Mrs.
Pennypoker magisterially. "If I tell you to do something, you must do
it."

At the last words, Janey drew herself up to her full height and glared
at Mrs. Pennypoker. Something in the u