these days and you--what do you care what becomes of me? Leave me to get
a man of my own and then I'll be human. I've been--killing the hog
to-day!" Marg suddenly and irrelevantly burst out; "I--I shall never do
it again. We'll starve first!"

"Why didn't father?" Nella-Rose said, softly.

"Father? Huh! he couldn't have held the knife. He went for the jug--and
got it full! No, I had to do it, but it's the last time. Nella-Rose,
tell me where Burke is hidden--tell me! Leave me free to--to win him;
let me have my chance!"

"And then who'll kill the pig?" Nella-Rose shuddered.

"Who cares?" Marg flung back.

"No! Find him if you can. Fair play--no favours; what I find is open to
you!" Nella-Rose laughed impishly and, darting past her sister, ran down
the path.

Marg stood and watched her with baffled rage and hate. For a moment she
almost decided to take her chances and seek Burke Lawson in the distant
Hollow. But night was coming--the black, drear night of the low places.
Marg was desperate, but a primitive conservatism held her. Not for all
she hoped to gain would she brave Burke Lawson alone in the secret
places of Devil-may-come Hollow! So she followed after Nella-Rose and
reached home while her sister was preparing the evening meal.

Peter Greyson, the father, sat huddled in a big chair by the fire. He
had arrived at that stage of returning consciousness when he felt that