some strength of will in that
girl. But, pshaw! she had a mother and a line of nonentities behind her.
I forgot that. Is that money all right, Tina?"

"It's all right, Marse John."

Tina was a beautiful woman, with the smoothest brown skin, and black
hair coiled many times around a perfectly shaped head.

The renters never waited long in Mr. Robinson's presence when their
business was ended. But Religion only moved back a little and lingered.
Tina, bringing a cup of cocoa, at last noticed her.

"Why, Religion, you're not gone."

"And why ain't you gone!" screamed the old man.

"I--I'm waiting for the receipt, sir."

"Waiting for the receipt?" he shrieked. "God and fury! things have come
to a pretty pass that a slave wench should wait in my house for a
receipt. Get out of this, or--Bull!"

"Stand still, Religion," cried Tina, as the dog leaped up. "Down, Bull!
Marse John"--and her voice sank to a sweet, soothing tone--"you'd better
not upset yourself so; you'll be sick."

She stroked his face and hair tenderly, and when he lay back quiet in
his chair, worn out with his passion, she beckoned to Religion to follow
her. They went into one of the rooms. The candle burning in it showed a
bed, with posts reaching to the ceiling, and an ancient mahogany chest.
A handful of fire burned in the deep fireplace, and before it crouched
Mack, an old slave of Mr. Robinson's--a miserable idiot, with just mind
enough to perform a very few menial services.

"Trick yer! trick yer!" he piped, in a high thin voice, like an old
woman's. "Done got de blacksnake's head an' de dead baby's hand right
hyar. Trick yer! trick yer! Git out quick!" He kept up the cry while
Tina wrote the receipt, and when she led the way to the door he pattered
after them. "Git out quick, 'fore Tina trick yer. I done hope Tina trick
Min."

Religion turned fiercely. "Has you tricked my sister and brung her to
what she is?"

Tina laughed contemptuously. "Who says I put a spell on Min?"

"Min says it, an' Mack says it, an' I b'lieves it. You always was
jealous of her, 'kase Marse John taught her, and made more of her than
he did of you."

"Then it's likely this _spell_ will put her out of my way," said Tina,
all the sweetness gone out of her voice and face, and nothing but venom
left. She turned to go in, but Religion dropped on her knees and clasped
her feet.

"Oh, Tina! if you did put a spell on Min, take it off, for Christ's
sake. Nobody kin do it