Max had gone for a ride.
While chasing the cat Gracie had not perceived a little woolly head thrust out of a door at the farther end of the hall, its keen black eyes closely watching her movements.
"He, he, he!" giggled the owner of the head, as Gracie secured pussy and hurried into the dressing-room with her, "wondah what she done dat fer!" "What you talkin' 'bout, you sassy niggah ?" asked Agnes, coming up behind her on her way to Mrs.Raymond's apartments with another basket of clean clothes, just as Gracie reappeared and hurried up the stairs to the story above." "Why, Miss Gracie done come pounce on ole Tab while she paradin' down de hall, and ketch her up an' tote her off into Miss Wilet's dressin'-room, an's lef her dar wid de do' shut on her.

What for you s'pose she done do dat ?" "Oh, go 'long! I don' b'lieve Miss Gracie didn't do no sich ting!" returned Agnes.
"She did den, I seed her," asserted the little maid positively.

"Mebbe she heerd de mices runnin' 'round an want ole Tab for to ketch 'em." "You go 'long and 'tend to yo' wuk.

Bet, you lazy niggah," responded Agnes, pushing past her.

"Miss Wilet an Miss Gracie dey'll min' dere own consarns widout none o' yo' help." The child made no reply, but stole on tiptoe after Agnes.
Violet was coming up the front stairway, and reached the door of her dressing-room, just in advance of the girl.