The darkness asked no help from black walls and smoky roof.
"Isn't this better than to be out ?" said Winthrop, after his eyes had been for a moment drawn without by the tremendous pouring of the rain.

But the little black girl looked at it and said doggedly, "I don't care." "Where have you been with that basket ?" "Down yonder -- where all the folks goes," she said with a slight motion of her head towards the built-up quarter of the country.
"Do you bring wood all the way from there on your back ?" "When I get some." "Aren't you tired ?" The child looked at him steadily, and then in a strange somewhat softened manner which belied her words, answered, "No." "You don't bring that big basket full, do you ?" She kept her bright eyes on him and nodded.
"I should think it would break your back." "If I don't break my back I get a lickin'." "Was that what you were crying for as you went by ?" "I wa'n't a cryin'!" said the girl.

"Nobody never see me a cryin' for nothin'!" "You haven't filled your basket to-day." She gave an askant look into it, and was silent.
"How came that ?" "'Cause! -- I was tired, and I hadn't had no dinner; and I don't care! That's why I wished the thunder would kill me.

I can't live without eatin'." "Have you had nothing since morning ?" "I don't get no mornin' -- I have to get my dinner." "And you could get none to-day ?" "No.

Everything was eat up." "Everything isn't quite eaten up," said Winthrop, rummaging in his coat pocket; and he brought forth thence a paper of figs which he gave the girl.