of great importance,
and began:

"I ain't fit fo' to try cookin' fancy tings fo' gret suppers, but--"

"Oh, very well," said Corniel, interrupting her, "Jinny can do it if you
ain't able; Mars' said so."

But Mammy cried out, in a tone that made her soft voice seem very
shrill:

"Go 'way, you C'neel, talkin' 'bout Jinny doin' _my_ cook'ry. I'd like
to be seein' de porkapine marm'lade _she'd_ be makin'! And what do dat
Jinny know 'bout whipped sorghum or melon puff, I should like to
inquaire! Tote off, now, you C'neel, an' don't go talkin' 'bout dat
Jinny doin' my fancy cook'ry any mor', but jus' you tell Mars' Gran'son
I'll hev dat supper firs' class in eb'ry respeck."

Sally somehow liked the pride and scorn that rang out in Mammy's voice
at the idea of there being any one else who could do her cooking as well
as she could.

"She believes in herself," thought Sally, "and it is a good thing."

Mammy hobbled into her cabin as Corniel and Sam went toward the house,
little Jule tagging into the cabin after Mammy. And Sally went back
through the sweet air and green roads, and through Shady Path and
Lover's Lane, her mind and ears full of the merry laughter of happy
little Jule.

CHAPTER VI.

THE SUPPER COMPANY

When Sally heard the order for the supper company the next night, she at
once decided that her own simple meal must be quickly eaten, as she must
see something of the fine things at Ingleside.

By standing on the rocks it would be easy to peep through the thin
tangle near the arbor just above her head and close by the wall. It
would not do to take long peeps, but she could take several for a moment
at a time. Yet she must beware: a sudden gust of wind might part the
slight brush, show her bright eyes, then, alas, the pleasure it might
take from her!

Oh, but it was wonders she did with the old brush, the same that the
groom had thrown away at Ingleside! She did not wait until evening to
try it, but during the afternoon, with the bit of looking-glass propped
up before her, she patiently brushed and brushed, until something like a
parting appeared along the middle of her well-shaped head.

At that she took a stout pin, and running it down the uneven seam, made
a beautiful even parting, the thick, ruddy hair standing high on each
side of it.

"My, how pretty that looks!" innocently murmured the child. Then again
she brushed and brushed, until the ripply mass shone like unto burnished
gold. An