Even her hair did not curl as well as usual, though Mug, who had dried her tears and come back to Alice's room, admired her so much, likening her to the apple blossoms which grew in the lower orchard.
"Is you gwine to Mas'r Hugh ?" she asked, as Alice passed out into the hall.

"I'se jest been dar.

He's peart as a new dollar--knows everybody.
How long sense, you 'spec' ?" and Mug looked very wise, as she thus skirted around what she was forbidden to divulge on pain of Hugh's displeasure.
But Alice had no suspicions, and bidding Mug go down, she entered Hugh's presence with a feeling that it was to all intents and purposes their first meeting with each other..