him. It gave her rank displeasure. To be officially
tagged as "Such and such" by a "one-horse" little town. Yes it was a
"one-horse" little town. Her assurance slipped from her and in
confusion she sought to investigate no further.

"Where's Mattie? You ought to have something about your shoulders."
She rose to her feet and began poking about on the wardrobe shelf.

"Mattie's not here," said Miss Susie.

Mary Louise turned around. "Mattie's not here?--And what's the reason
she's not here?"

Miss Susie's voice was acquiring calm. "She decided that this wasn't
good enough place for her. She couldn't bear to think of all the money
servants were getting down in Louisville--so she left."

Mary Louise came back and stood before her chair. She looked at her
aunt intently. "You mean to say she _left_ you?"

"She did."

It was too much for Mary Louise's comprehension and she contemplated
the fact bleakly. "Why, her people have been here on the place for
four generations!"

Miss Susie's face was grim. "Ten dollars a week was too much for her."

Slowly the conviction was taking root. "And she has really left?"

Miss Susie nodded.

"And taken Omar with her?"

Miss Susie nodded again.

"And Landy?"

There was a moment's silence. Miss Susie, it seemed, would for the
dramatic effect have preferred that the defection had been universal.
"No," she said half regretfully, "Landy's stayed with me."

"And done the cooking, I suppose?"

"He did--after Wednesday."

"And Wednesday? _You_ tried it until then, I suppose?" Mary Louise's
tone was all reproach.

Miss Susie did not deny it.

They sat for a moment in dismal accord. Mary Louise had a sudden
feeling as though the family were breaking up. All during the war the
little corps of servants had remained intact. She had felt that, the
war over, the danger point had been passed. Also the reason for Miss
Susie's little spell was now apparent.

Directly she asked more briskly, "D' you try to get any one
else?--Zibbie Tuttle?"

"Zibbie's gone to town, too."

Another moment's depressed silence.

"And how about Zenie? She used to cook."

Miss Susie sighed. "Zenie's got her head all full of fool notions. She
thinks she has to stay home and look after that worthless Zeke."

"And she won't come? You've tried her?"

Miss Susie shook her head grimly.

Mary Louise suddenly laughed. It was a dry, mirthless sort of laugh.
"Looks like the Negroes are getting all the late