Ben was positive, but he felt uneasy, and the next day he told his master of the whole matter, and Mr. Raymond went down to talk to Viney.

She met him with a determination that surprised and angered him.  To everything he said to her she made but one answer:  “I’s got my free papahs an’ I’s a-goin’ Nawth.”

Finally her former master left her with the remark: 

“Well, I don’t care where you go, but I’m sorry for Ben.  He was a fool for working for you.  You don’t half deserve such a man.”

“I won’ have him long,” she flung after him, with a laugh.

The opposition with which she had met seemed to have made her more obstinate, and in spite of all Ben could do, she began to make preparations to leave him.  The money for the chickens and eggs had been growing and was to have gone toward her husband’s ransom, but she finally sold all her laying hens to increase the amount.  Then she calmly announced to her husband: 

“I’s got money enough an’ I’s a-goin’ Nawth next week.  You kin stay down hyeah an’ be a slave ef you want to, but I’s a-goin’ Nawth.”

“Even ef I wanted to go Nawth you know I ain’ half paid out yit.”

“Well, I can’t he’p it.  I can’t spen’ all de bes’ pa’t o’ my life down hyeah where dey ain’ no ’vantages.”

“I reckon dey’s ‘vantages everywhah fu’ anybody dat wants to wu’k.”

“Yes, but what kin’ o’ wages does yo’ git?  Why, de Johnsons say dey had a lettah f’om Miss Smiff an’ dey’s gettin’ ’long fine in de Nawth.”

“De Johnsons ain’ gwine?”

“Si Johnson is—­”

Then the woman stopped suddenly.

“Oh, hit’s Si Johnson?  Huh!”

“He ain’ goin’ wid me.  He’s jes’ goin’ to see dat I git sta’ted right aftah I git thaih.”

“Hit’s Si Johnson?” he repeated.

“’Tain’t,” said the woman.  “Hit’s freedom.”

Ben got up and went out of the cabin.

“Men’s so ‘spicious,” she said.  “I ain’ goin’ Nawth ’cause Si’s a-goin’—­I ain’t.”

When Mr. Raymond found out how matters were really going he went to Ben where he was at work in the field.

“Now, look here, Ben,” he said.  “You’re one of the best hands on my place and I’d be sorry to lose you.  I never did believe in this buying business from the first, but you were so bent on it that I gave in.  But before I’ll see her cheat you out of your money I’ll give you your free papers now.  You can go North with her and you can pay me back when you find work.”

“No,” replied Ben doggedly.  “Ef she cain’t wait fu’ me she don’ want me, an’ I won’t roller her erroun’ an’ be in de way.”

“You’re a fool!” said his master.

“I loves huh,” said the slave.  And so this plan came to naught.

Then came the night on which Viney was getting together her belongings.  Ben sat in a corner of the cabin silent, his head bowed in his hands.  Every once in a while the woman cast a half-frightened glance at him.  He had never once tried to oppose her with force, though she saw that grief had worn lines into his face.