"look!" cried Pudding. "a silk girl!" The expression 'silk girl' is used, often, among bond-maids of the north, to refer to their counterparts in the south. the expression reflects thgeir belief that such girls are spoiled, excessively pampered, indulged and coddled, sleek pets, who have little to do but adorn themselves with cosmetics and await their Masters, cuddled cutely, on plush, scarlet coverlets, fringed with gold. there is some envy in this charge, I think. more literally, the expression tends to be based on the fact that the brief slave tunic of the south, the single garment permitted the female slave, is often of silk. southern girls, incidentally, in my opinion, though scarcely worked as their northern sisters in bondage, a function of the ecnomic distinction between the farm and city, are often worked, and worked hard, particularly if they have not pleased their Masters.

p. 144, book 9