I judged we had got everything fixed about right now. So I says:

     "Just let the auction go right along, and don't worry. Nobody don't have to pay for the things they buy till a whole day after the auction on accounts of the short notice, and they ain't going out of this till they get that money; and the way we've fixed it the sale ain't going to count, and they ain't going to get no money. It's just like the way it was with the niggers--it warn't no sale, and the niggers will be back before long. Why, they can't collect the money for the NIGGERS yet--they're in the worst kind of a fix, Miss Mary."

     "Well," she says, "I'll run down to breakfast now, and then I'll start straight for Mr. Lothrop's."

     "'Deed, THAT ain't the ticket, Miss Mary Jane," I says, "by no manner of means; go BEFORE breakfast."

     "Why?"

     "What did you reckon I wanted you to go at all for, Miss Mary?"

     "Well, I never thought--and come to think, I don't know. What was it?"

     "Why, it's because you ain't one of these leather-face people. I don't want no better book than what your face is. A body can set down and read it off like coarse print. Do you reckon you can go and face your uncles when they come to kiss you good-morning, and never--"