"Try Seraphine one mo' time," Mary directed. "If e don' make answer, I'm gwine to get out of dis bed an' gi' em a lickin' e won' never forget, whilst e lives. When I say, 'Git up,' I mean, 'Git up!'"
"You hear you Mammy say e gwine lick you, enty? Wake up, Seraphine! Wake up!"
There were three beds in the shed room and the covers on all of them moved. Mary's threat was effective.
"All yunnuh get up an' come in dis room. I want to look in all you face," Mary called to them.
"Don' make dem lil chillen come, May-e, not dem boy-chillen. Dey so sleepy," Maum Hannah interceded.
Mary reflected a moment, then called sternly:
"Evy one got to come! Evy one! Seraphine, you an' Keepsie come stand close to dis bed! Right now, too! Dis minute! You low-down no-manners gal. You gone an' had a gal-child right here in my house, an' den lay down in de bed an' make out it my own! I good mind to lick you till I scorch you gown-tail."
Seraphine and Keepsie were two awkward figures standing there by Mary's bed, both of them denying most positively any knowledge of the extra child.
