e went down to
the kitchen and took a seat there. Here Aunt Judy found her about ten
o'clock that night.

"What on airth you sittin' here for?" said she.

"Oh, I's only waitin' till Marster William gets a little used to his room
afore I axes him how he likes it and does he want anything."

Accordingly, not long after, Aunt Katy stole upstairs and opening the door
called out, "Ho, Marster William, does you want anything, and is you got
enough kiver?"

But "Marster William's" senses were too soundly locked in sleep to heed
the faithful creature, and after standing still a moment, she said to
herself, "I'm mighty feared he'll cotch cold."

So back she went to her cabin and from the same "red chist" took a
many-colored patchwork quilt. This she carried to the house and spread
carefully over Mr. Middleton, saying, "He won't be none too comfortable,
and in the mornin' he'll see it, and I'll tell him I done pieced and
quilted it my own self."

The consequence of this extra covering was that Mr. Middleton awoke in the
night with the impression that he was being suffocated in the hot climate
of Calcutta! He did not know that she, to whom he was indebted for his
warm berth, was now sleeping quietly and dreaming "how tickled Marster
William would be when he knew she had lent him her spare sheets and
bedquilt!"

CHAPTER XVI

FANNY REFUSES TO GO TO NEW ORLEANS

The next day was the Sabbath. Contrary to their usual custom on such
mornings, Mr. Middleton and his negroes were astir at an early hour. The
female portion of the latter were occupied in preparing a great breakfast
in honor of "Marster William's" arrival, while Mr. Middleton busied
himself in removing a part of his dark, heavy beard.

When William made his appearance in the sitting room, he was greeted by
his brother with, "How are you, Bill? Hope you slept better than I did,
for 'pears like I couldn't get asleep nohow, till toward mornin' and then
I was mighty skeary about wakin' up, for fear I should find it all
moonshine, and no Bill here after all." After a moment's pause, he added,
"Whar's t'other chap? If he don't come down directly, the hen'll spile,
for Judy's had it ready better than half an hour."

Ashton soon appeared, and the party did ample justice to Aunt Judy's
well-cooked breakfast. That meal being over, Mr. Middleton said, "Now,
boys, what do you say to goin' to meetin'? The Baptists