She was
sitting on one, with Amoret nestled in her lap, and was crooning an
old German lullaby of Nannerl's, which seemed to have a wonderful
effect in calming the child, who at last fell into a doze. Aurelia
had let her voice die away, and had begun to think over her strange
situation, when she was startled by a laugh behind her, and looking
round, hardly repressed a start or scream, at the sight of Fay
enjoying a game at bo-peep, with--yes--it actually was--the negro--
over the low-sashed door.
"I beg pardon, ma'am," said Jumbo, twitching his somewhat grizzled
wool; "I heard singing, and little missy--"
Unfortunately Amoret here awoke, and with a shriek of horror cowered
in her arms.
"I am so sorry," said Aurelia, anxious not to hurt his feelings.
"She knows no better."
Jumbo grinned, bowed, and withdrew, Fay running after him, for she
had made friends with him during her days of solitude, being a
fearless child, and not having been taught to make a bugbear of
him. "The soot won't come off," she said.
Aurelia had not a moment to herself till Fay had said the Lord's
prayer at her knee, and Amoret, with much persuasion, had been
induced to lisp out--
"Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless the bed I sleep upon;
Four corners to by bed,
Four angles round my head,
One to read and one to write,
And two to guard my soul at night.
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