me, and ef my Pappy ever comes to git her and says she's his'n for
Gawds sake she aint no such thing she's yourn. There's a city fella
a drummer been settin up to me right smart, and he says a purty gal
is a fool to stay and not have no fun and just make close for other
gals to ware and in the city ennyway gals have more chanct So he
wanted me to go along with him but I wuddent becos of Kitty but now
I reckon yore glad to git shut of me so no more at present from
yores truly

MAG.

Plese tell miss Jaky ef she brushes Kittys hare the wrong way evry
day mebbe it will come curly.

Kate looked about her at the circle of black faces, all rather pleased
and eager-looking over Mag's downfall, for the "poor white" is never
popular with the better class of negroes, and Mag's position in the
household had aroused some jealousy.

"I suppose it's too late to catch her," she said dully. "There have been
a dozen trains to the city--we don't even know what city.--Oh, I've done
this, I've done this!" She was speaking to herself, though she spoke
aloud.

Big Liza took it upon herself to administer consolation. "No you ain't,
honey, no, you ain't! She was jes' nachelly bo'n dat-a-way. In co'se
it's natchel enough fo' a body to take up with a gemman friend, but to
leave her own baby-chile behine her--why, dat gal's aimin' fer hell-fire
jus' as fas' as she kin trabbel!"

Kate was reminded of poor Mag's parting gift, her "little hands and
feet." She asked, sighing:

"Where is the baby?"

"Miss Jack's got her in her room."

She entered unheard, and found Jacqueline holding the little whimpering
creature tight against her breast, rocking and crooning to it.

"There, there, precious! Did it miss its mama? Never mind, I know.
They're tired of us, they've left us--I know. They just didn't want us
any more. Never mind, pet! You've got me."

Kate slipped away again with dim eyes, leaving Jacqueline and the
deserted baby to comfort each other.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Jacqueline had waited all that day for news from Channing, disappointed,
more than a little humiliated, to think that he had failed where she had
not, but making every allowance for him as a city-bred man not
accustomed to storms such as that of the night before. Perhaps he had
taken for granted that she would not venture out in it herself.

Then, as no word came from him, either by note or by telephone, she
beg