"I do not wish to talk of it any more." Junius stood before her a moment in silence, and then he said: "Will you tell me if my Aunt Keswick is ill or dead, and why did Mr Brandon go there ?" "She is neither;" answered Roberta, "and he went there on business." And with this she arose and left the room.
Peggy, who had been in the hall, now made a bolt down the back stairs into the basement regions, where was situated the kitchen.

In this spacious apartment she found Aunt Judy, the cook, sitting before a large wood fire, and holding in her hand a long iron ladle.

There was nothing near her which she could dip or stir with a ladle, and it was probably retained during her period of leisure as a symbol of her position and authority.
Peggy squatted on her heels, close to Aunt Judy's side, and thus addressed her: "Aun' Judy, ef I tell you sumfin', soul an' honor, hope o' glory, you'll neber tell ?" "Hope o' glory, neber!" said Aunt Judy, turning a look of interest on the girl.
"Well, den, look h'yar.

You know Miss Rob she got two beaux; one is Mahs' Junius, an' de udder is de gemman wid de speckle trousers from de Norf." "Yes, I know dat," said Aunt Judy.

"Has dey fit ?" "Not yit, but dey wos gwine to," said Peggy, "but I seed 'em, an' I tore down de road to de gate whar dey wos gittin ready to fight, an' I jes' let dat dar Mister Crof' know wot low-down white trash Miss Rob think he wos, an' den he said ef dat war so 'twant no use fur to come in, an' he turn' roun' de buggy, an' cl'ar'd out.