reckless yes. The word
waited in her mind behind those lips all formed. Her swift imagination
pictured to her herself riding away beside Blatch leaving the sick man
who had been cause of so many humiliations to her to die or get well.
Blatch, watching narrowly, read the coming consent in her face. His hand
stole forward toward the draw-bars.

Her salvation was in a very small and commonplace thing. The picture of
herself riding beside Blatch Turrentine brought back to her, with an
awakening shock, the recollection of herself and Creed riding side by
side, her arm across his shoulder, his drooping head against it. How
purely happy she had been then--how innocent--how blest! What were these
fires of torment that raged in her now? No, no! That might be lost to
her; but even so, she could not decline from its dear memory to a mating
like this. Without a word she turned and ran back to the house, never
looking over her shoulder in response to the one or two cautious calls
that Blatch sent after her.

Judith's day was mercifully full of work. When Creed did not require her,
Dilsey demanded help and direction, and one or two errands from outside
kept her mind from sinking in upon itself. It was night-fall, Andy was
lending her his awkward aid in the sick-room, when Jeff came in and
beckoned the two of them out mysteriously.

"How's Bonbright this evenin', Jude? Do you reckon I could have speech
with him?" he asked in a troubled tone.

Judith shook her head. Her own near approach to absolute failure in her
charge that morning made her the more punctilious now.

"No." She spoke positively. "Uncle Jep said he wasn't to be werried about
anything."

"Why, he's settin' up some, ain't he?" said the boy in surprise. "I thort
he looked right peart."

"Yes," agreed Judith dejectedly, "he's gettin' his strength all right; he
does look well. But you ax him questions, or name anything to him to
trouble him, an' it throws him right back. Uncle Jep says hit's more his
mind than his body now. What is it ye want from Creed? Cain't I tend to
it?"

"I don't reckon a gal like you could he'p any," Jeff said doubtfully. His
eye wandered toward his twin. "I reckon this is men's business. I've got
word that Huldy Spiller--or some say Huldy Bonbright--is over at Blatch's
cabin, and he's got her shut up."

Judith's heart gave a great leap as of terror; the thing was out at
last--people knew it. Then that heavily beating heart sank sickening