Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/202

 "Willingly."

"And I also will go," said Bouton de Rose. "I have no great knowledge of the affairs which ces messieurs are discussing."

Mrs. Harden, who had been yawning behind her fan, joined the party, and they took their way to the negro-quarters, situated half a mile from the house.

"What an enchanting little beast! What is he?" asked Margaret, stopping to admire a bright-eyed, gray-furred creature tugging at the end of its chain.

"That is Zillah, my uncle's pet coon. Is n't she pretty? Here, Coony, there 's something in my pocket for you."

The coon sprang on Philip's shoulder, and its curious little hands, delicate and horribly human, fumbled in his pockets till they found a bit of sugar. It cried plaintively when they left it, and ran after them as far as its chain would permit.

Hero was their guide about the miniature village. He introduced them to the preacher, a young man of intelligent aspect, but who won little favor among his parishioners, as Margaret inferred from Hero's rather slighting comment: "Bro' Peaseley 's a good man, but he is teruble put to it for prayer; he ain't got no gift of retribution." Hero, who had been born and bred on the plantation, was made very welcome by such