A certain resignation in the girl's soft voice brought Peter a qualm for
laughing at her. He laid an impulsive hand on her young shoulder.

"Well, that's true, certainly, but it won't always be like that, Cissie.
More of us go off to school every year. I do hope my school here in
Hooker's Bend will be of some real value. If I could just show our
people how badly we fare here, how ill housed, and unsanitary--"

The girl pressed Peter's fingers with a woman's optimism for a man.

"You'll succeed, Peter, I know you will. Some day the name Siner will
mean the same thing to coloured people as Tanner and Dunbar and
Braithwaite do. Anyway, I've put my name down for ten dollars to help
out." She returned the pencil. "I'll have Tump Pack come around and pay
you my subscription, Peter."

"I'll watch out for Tump," promised Peter in a lightening mood, "--and
make him pay."

"He'll do it."

"I don't doubt it. You ought to have him under perfect control. I meant
to tell you what a pretty frock you have on."

The girl dimpled, and dropped him a little curtsy, half ironical and
wholly graceful.

Peter was charmed.

"Now keep that way, Cissie, smiling and human, not so grammatical. I