She was a
very pretty child, with a round, chubby face just now smeared with
molasses, as were her fat little hands, while her dress, open at the
back, showed signs of the sand and water with which it had come in
contact. And she stood, holding the Colonel with her eyes, until he
began to feel cold again, and to think of his hot-water bag. He did not
care for children, and this one--

"Heavens!" he thought to himself. "Can I do it? Yes, I must!"

Then, putting out his hand, he said, "Little girl, will you shake hands
with me."

Nothing abashed she was going forward, when Mandy Ann rushed in and
pulled her back, exclaiming: "Oh, sar, not wid dem han's; dey mus' be
wassed."

"You ole Mandy Ann nigger, you lemme be. I won't be wassed," was the
sharp reply, and the dark eyes flashed with a fire which made the
Colonel think of himself when roused, and he began to feel a good deal
of respect for the spoiled tyrant.

"Little girl," he said, very gently, but firmly, "Go with Mandy and be
washed, and then come and see--" he came very near saying "see what I
have brought you," without at all knowing why it should have come into
his mind.

It had never occurred to him to bring her anything, but he wished now
that he had, and began to wonder what he had that would please a child.
He was fond of jewelry, and wore on his watch-chain several ornaments,
and among them a very small, delicately carved book in ivory. He could
detach it easily, and he began to do so, while the child eyed him
curiously. She had seen very few gentlemen, and this one attracted her,
he was so tall and imposing; and when he said again, "Go and be washed,"
she obeyed him, and the Colonel was a second time alone, for Jake was
making his ablutions, and changing his working clothes for his best, in
which he looked very respectable, when he at last rejoined his guest,
and began at once in a trembling voice to speak of the business which
had brought the Colonel there.

CHAPTER IX

THE COLONEL AND JAKE

"I 'lowed you had the best right to her because 'twas you that sent the
money," he said.

The Colonel neither assented nor dissented, and Jake went on: "Thar is
nobody else. Miss Dory never tole nothin'; she was silent as de grave
about--him--de fader of de lill chile, I mean. 'It's all right,' she'd
say. 'I tole him I wouldn't tell till he came--an' I won't--but, it's
all right. Elder Covil knows--send for him.' That's just afore she
died."