Spare me! I am so--" It was just about this time that old Uncle Billy, with a bridle in one hand and a carriage whip in the other came slowly upon the scene.

At the sight of Sally Ann apparently about to assault his mistress the bridle dropped from his hand and with a tight clutch on the carriage whip he covered the intervening space at an amazing speed.
"Hi, dar! You li'l woolly haided imp! You tech Miss Hallie wid dat ar stick an' I bus' you wide open!" "Oh, stop, Uncle Billy!" cried Virgie in dismay.

"We're only having a play!" "Maybe you is; but I lay ef I wrop my carriage whip roun' her laig, des oncet, she'll hop all de way to de river." At this dismal prospect, which seemed much truer than the play, Sally Ann began to whimper loudly.

"Miss Hallie, ef he stay here, I ain't gwine to play." "Whar you git dem whiskers at ?" demanded Uncle Billy.
"Shut up!" cried Virgie.
"I'm shuttin'," said Uncle Billy, retreating.
Thus reassured Sally Ann continued: "I gwine down stairs to git my dinner When I come back, I sho' gwine kill you.

Fyar you well," and Blue Beard, making a wide circle around the carriage whip, took himself off the scene.
"Now, Mother," Virgie announced, "I have to watch at the castle window," and she jumped up on the bench.
"Sister Anne; Sister Anne, do you see anybody coming ?" "No one, Fatima--nothing but a cloud of dust made by the wind." "Look again, Sister Anne.