Caroline Darrah, wide-eyed with astonishment. She was entirely diverted
from any desire to follow out or weigh Mrs. Lawrence's remark to her by
the wiliness of the experienced Tempie.

"They ain't no telling what widder women out fer number twos _will_ do,"
answered Tempie sagely. "Now, you run and let Miss Annette put that blue
frock on you 'fore dinner. In times of disturbance like these here women
oughter fix theyselves up so as ter 'tice the men ter eat a little at
meal times. Ain't I done put on this white apron ter try and git that no
'count Jefferson jest ter take notice a little uv his vittals. Now go on,
honey--it's late."

And thus the love of the old negro had taken away the only chance given
Caroline Darrah to learn the facts of the grim story, from the knowledge
of which she might have worked out salvation for her lover and herself.

An hour later as they were being served the soup by the absorbed and
inattentive Jeff, Mrs. Matilda laid down her spoon and said to Caroline
anxiously:

"I wish Phoebe had come out to-night. I asked her but she said she was
too busy. She looked tired. Do you suppose she could be ill?"

"Yes," answered the major dryly, "I feel sure that Phoebe is ill. She is
at present, I should judge, suffering with a malady which she has had for
some time but which is about to reach the acute stage. It needs judicious
ignoring so let's not mention it to her for the present."

"I understand what you mean, Major," answered his wife with delighted
eyes, "and I won't say a word about it. It will be such a help to David