He talked with her seriously, told her he had seen her many times punished undeservedly; he did not wish to have her saucy or disrespectful, but when she was SURE she did not deserve a whipping, to avoid it if she could.

"You are looking sick," he added, "you cannot endure beating as you once could." It was not long before an opportunity offered of profiting by his advice.

She was sent for wood, and not returning as soon as Mrs.B.
calculated, she followed her, and, snatching from the pile a stick, raised it over her.
"Stop!" shouted Frado, "strike me, and I'll never work a mite more for you;" and throwing down what she had gathered, stood like one who feels the stirring of free and independent thoughts.
By this unexpected demonstration, her mistress, in amazement, dropped her weapon, desisting from her purpose of chastisement.

Frado walked towards the house, her mistress following with the wood she herself was sent after.

She did not know, before, that she had a power to ward off assaults.