imed Norah, laughing.

"Well, I suppose there is no use in talking about it. You won't tell
me. Charlotte, when is your Aunt Caroline expected?"

"They were looking for her in a day or two," Charlotte replied,
putting on her hat as she spoke. She did not care to stay and listen
to Mrs. Leigh just now.

Marion caught her hand. "May I have the little book for a while?" she
whispered.

"I have a piece of news for you," announced the old lady, as Charlotte
disappeared.

"Madelaine Russell is engaged to Winston Graham. It is to be announced
this week. It will be a relief to her mother to have her well married,
and I expect she is getting what she wants."

"I think it is an excellent match," remarked Norah. "Winston is not a
bad fellow, and Madelaine couldn't be happy without money. Why, if
there isn't Mammy Belle!" she added, looking up.

In the doorway stood that dusky personage, arrayed not in her usual
starched calico and white apron, but in her Sunday dress of black,
with floating crepe veil.

"Howdy, Miss Norah; howdy, Miss Marion. I des come to see how you all
was gettin' on. I'se tolable, thank you, ma'am. Yes'm, James
Mandeville's gone wid his mamma to see his grandpaw, and Marse Tom's
the onliest one lef'."

"Sit down and rest," said Marion. "Mrs. Leigh, you know Aunt Belle,
don't you?"

"Is that Belle Campbell? Of course I do. I remember you, Belle, when
you lived at the Graingers'."

"Yes'm, Miss Sally, I 'members you. Looks like you's mighty peart
yit." Mammy Belle smoothed the front of her skirt and then folded her
black gloved hands in her lap.

"Oh, I'm not good for much any more," answered Mrs. Leigh. "But tell
me, Belle, what made you leave the Graingers? I thought you were a
fixture there."

"Yes'm, I reckon I'd be living there yit, if 'twarn't fur ole Marse
Andrew. He done sassed me too much, Miss Sally. Aunt Judy she say,
'Better stay whar de pot biles hardes', Belle,' but I couldn't stan'
ole Marse Andrew."

"I had forgotten about Aunt Judy. Is she still living?" asked Mrs.
Leigh.

"Yes, ma'am, she's livin', but she is mighty porely."

"Isn't she very old?"

"Yes'm, Miss Sally, Aunt Judy's tolable ole. Look like she don' know
fur shore how ole she is. You knows Marse Andrew, Miss Sally? Well,
Aunt Judy say she war a little gal runnin' round when Marse Andrew was
bawn, an' dey tuk her into de house dat day to wait on ole Miss, Marse
Andrew's grandmaw, and it was corn-shuckin' time