hing made him mistrust himself, his very
existence. He longed to have done with dreams and speculation, to feel
something tangible, warm, and real within his grasp. "I can't go on
like this!" he cried. "I can't!" He turned from the window and walked
hurriedly up and down the room; indoors or out, he found no rest. He
threw himself in the armchair near the table, and sat buried in thought.

Mandy came softly into the room. She was followed by Hasty, who carried
a tray, laden with things that ought to have tempted any man. She
motioned for Hasty to put the tray on the table, and then began
arranging the dishes. Hasty stole to the window, and peeped out at the
tempting flare of red fire.

When Douglas discovered the presence of his two "faithfuls" he was
touched with momentary contrition. He knew that he often neglected to
chat with them now, and he made an effort to say something that might
restore the old feeling of comradeship.

"Have you had a hard day with the new gravel walk?" he asked
Hasty, remembering that he had been laying a fresh path to the
Sunday-school-room.

Hasty glanced uneasily at Mandy, afraid either to lie or tell the truth
about the disposition she had made of his afternoon.

"Jes' you come eat yo' supper," Mandy called to Douglas. "Don' yous
worry your head 'bout dat lazy husban' ob mine. He ain' goin' ter work
'nuff to hurt hisself." For an instant she had been tempted to let the
pastor know how Hasty had gone to the circus and seen nothing of Polly;
but her motherly instinct won the day and she urged him to eat before
disturbing him with her own anxieties. It was no use. He only toyed with
his food; he was clearly ill at ease and eager to be alone. She gave up
trying to tempt his appetite, and began to lead up in a roundabout way
to the things which she wished to ask.

"Dar's quite some racket out dar in de lot tonight," she said; Douglas
did not answer. After a moment, she went on: "Hasty didn't work on no
walk to-day." Douglas looked at her quizzically, while Hasty, convinced
that for reasons of her own she was going to get him into trouble, was
making frantic motions. "He done gone to de circus," she blurted out.
Douglas's face became suddenly grave. Mandy saw that she had touched an
open wound.

"I jes' couldn't stan' it, Massa John. I HAD to find out 'bout dat angel
chile." There was a pause. She felt that he was waiting for her to go
on.

"She didn't done ride to-day."

He looked