ignorant--Azalie and me--"

He smiled. "Nothing matters now," he said.

They heard voices, and she looked out from the doorway. "It's Hoke.
They've sent old Doctor Bartlett. I'm so glad. Aunt Sally, I reckon
they'll need hot water. Get some ready, will you?"

"Cassandra, Cassandra!" called David, almost irritably.

She came back to him.

"Where are they?"

"Down the road a piece. I'm glad. You'll be done right now."

"Stoop to me." She obeyed, and the free arm caught and held her, then,
as the voices drew near, released her with glowing eyes and burning
cheeks.

She stepped out on the porch to meet them, half hiding her face behind
the babe in her arms, and old Dr. Bartlett, as he looked on her with
less prejudiced and more experienced eyes, thought he too never had seen
anything lovelier.

"He's awake," said Cassandra quietly to Hoke, and the two men went to
David. She carried the child back and asked Aunt Sally to wait on them,
while she sat down in a low splint rocker, clinging to the little one
and listening, with throbbing nerves, to the voices in the room beyond.

When Hoke came out to them a moment later, Azalea began eagerly to
question him, but Cassandra was silent.

"Doctah says we bettah tote 'im ovah to his own place to-day. Aunt Sally
'lows she can bide thar fer a while an' see him well again."

"You hain't goin' to 'low that, be ye, Hoke? Hit mount look like we
wa'n't willin' fer him to bide 'long of us."

"Hit hain't what looks like, hit's what's best fer him," said Hoke,
sagely. "Whatevah doctah says, we'll do." Then Hoke laughed quietly. "He
done tol' Doctor Bartlett 'at he reckoned somebody mus' 'a' took him fer
some sorter wild creetur an' shot him by mistake. I guess Frale's safe
enough f'om him, if the fool boy only know'd hit."

"Frale, he's plumb crazy, the way he's b'en actin'," said Azalea.

"An' Bishop Towahs he telegrafted 'at he'd send this here doctah, an'
he'd come up to-morrer with Miz Towahs to stop ovah with you, so I
reckon yer maw wants you down thar, Cass."

Cassandra rose quickly and placed the sleeping child gently in his
cradle box. "I'll go," she said. "There's no need for me here now.
Hoke--you've been right good--" She stopped abruptly and turned to his
wife. "I must wear your dress off, Azalie, but I'll send it back by Hoke
as soon as hit's been washed." She went out the door almost as if she
were eager to escape.

"Hain't ye goin' to wait fer yer horse?"