Nella-Rose?"

"No, I wouldn't have him if he asked me. It would be like marrying a
tree that the freshet was rolling about. I'm not going to seek and hide
with any man."

"Why don't yo' let Marg have 'im then? She'd be a right smart
responsibility."

"She can have him and welcome, if she can find him!" Then, hearing her
sister outside, she called:

"Come in, Marg. Shut out the cold and the dark. What's the use of acting
like a little old hateful?"

Marg slouched in; there was no other word to describe her indifferent
and contemptuous air.

"He's coming around?" she asked, nodding at her father.

"Yes--he's come," Nella-Rose admitted.

"All right, then, I'm going to tell him something!" She walked over to
her father and stood before him, looking him steadily in the eyes.

"I--I killed the hog to-day;" she spoke sharply, slowly, as to a dense
child. Peter Greyson started.

"You--you--did that?"