ether it was
mere unconscious reproduction, I am not prepared to say. But certain
it is that, in voice and gesture, in tone and attitude, and in a
certain passionate earnestness of expression, Aunt Minervy Ann built up
the whole scene before my eyes with such power that I seemed to have
been present when it occurred. I felt as if she had conveyed me bodily
into the room to become a witness of the episode. She went on, still
with a frown on her face and a certain violence of tone and manner:

"I whipped 'roun' de room a time er two, pickin' up de cheers an'
slammin' um down agin, an' knockin' things 'roun' like I wuz mad. Miss
Vallie put her sewin' down an' lay her han' on de money. She low,
'What's dis, Aunt Minervy Ann?' I say, 'Hit's money, dat what
'tis--nothin' but nasty, stinkin' money! I wish dey wan't none in de
worl' less'n I had a bairlful.' She sorter fumble at de money wid 'er
fingers. You dunno, suh, how white an' purty an' weak her han' look
ter me dat night. She low, 'Aunt Minervy Ann, I can't take dis.' I
blaze' out at 'er, 'You don't hafter take it; you done got it! An' ef
you don't keep it, I'll rake up eve'y rag an' scrap I got an' leave dis
place. Now, you des' try me!'"

[Illustration: Mary E. Wilkins Freeman]

Again Aunt Minervy Ann summoned to her aid the passion of a moment that
had passed away, and again I had the queer experience of seeming to
witness the whole scene. She continued:

"Wid dat, I whipt out er de room an' out er de house an' went an' sot
down out dar in my house whar Hamp was at. Hamp, he low, 'What she
say?' I say, 'She ain't had time ter say nothin'--I come 'way fum
dar.' He low, 'You ain't brung dat money back, is you?' I say: 'Does
you think I'm a start naked fool?' He low: 'Kaze ef you is, I'll put
it right spang in de fire here.'

"Well, suh, I sot dar some little time, but eve'ything wuz so still in
de house, bein's Marse Tumlin done gone downtown, dat I crope back an'
crope in fer ter see what Miss Vallie doin'. Well, suh, she wuz
cryin'--settin' dar cryin'. I 'low, 'Honey, is I say anything fer ter
hurt yo' feelin's?' She blubber' out, 'You know you ain't!' an' den
she cry good-fashion.

"Des 'bout dat time, who should come in but Marse Tumlin. He look at
Miss Vallie an' den he look at me. He say, 'Valentine, what de
matter?' I say, 'It's me! I'm de one! I made 'er cry. I done sump'n
ter hurt 'er feelin's.' She low, ''Tain't so, an' you