Fiddle whilst I goes down and settles _him_. I ain' dressed and I
ain' ready, Miss Mary. You jes' look at them feet." She stuck them out
for inspection. Her shoes were out at the toes and down at the heels.
"This ain' my comp'ny night." As she went down-stairs, her voice died
away in a querulous murmur.

Mary, with her child in her arms, sat by the window and looked out upon
the quiet scene. There was faint rose in the sky, and a silver star. But
while she watched the rose faded.

Fiddle, warm and heavy in her arms, slept finally. Then Mary took off
her dress and donned a thin white kimono. She let down her hair and
braided it----

There was no light in the room, and her mother, coming up, asked softly,
"Are you there?"

"Yes."

"Fiddle asleep?"

"Yes, Mother."

Mrs. Flippin found her way to the window and sat down. "The nurse is
here, and a lot of clothes and things just came over for Miss MacVeigh
from Hamilton Hill. Mary, I wish you could see them."

"I shall in the morning, Mother."

"The nurse got her into a satin nightgown before I came up, with nothing
but straps for sleeves--but she looked like a Princess----"

"Aren't you tired to death, dear?"

Mrs. Flippin laughed. "Me? I like it. I am sorry to have Miss MacVeigh
hurt, but having her in the house with all those pretty things and
people coming and going is better than a circus."

Mary laughed a little. "You are such a darling--making the best of
things----"

"Well, making the best is the easiest way," said Mrs. Flippin. "I ain't
taking any credit, Mary."

"You've had a hard day. You'd better go to bed."

"I'll have a harder one to-morrow. Nothing would do but I must go back
to Huntersfield. Mandy's off her head, and the Judge wants the whole
house turned upside down for Truxton."

"And Truxton comes--on the noon train."

"Yes."

There was a long silence. Then Mary said in a queer voice, "Mother, I've
got to tell you something--to-night----"

"You ain't got anything to tell me, honey."

"But I have--something--I should have told you--months ago."

"There isn't anything you can tell me that I don't know."

_"Mother----"_

"Girls can't fool their mothers, Mary. Do you think that when Fiddle
grows up, she is going to fool you?"

IV

The next morning Mr. Flippin was at the foot of the stairs when his
daughter came down.

"So you lied to me, Mary."

She shook her head, "No."

"You said his name was Truelove Branch."

"He