time of it, for Mima was tearful and morose, and would not speak to
her except to blame her. As the days went on she wished to all the
powers that she had left the Harrison pride in the keeping of the
direct members of the family. It had proven a dangerous thing in her
hands.

Mammy soliloquized when she was about her work in the kitchen. "Men
ain' whut dey used to be," she said, "who'd 'a' t'ought o' de young
man a runnin' off dat away jes' 'cause a ooman tol' him no. He orter
had sense enough to know dat a ooman has sev'al kin's o' noes. Now ef
dat 'ud 'a' been in my day he'd a jes' stayed away to let huh t'ink
hit ovah an' den come back an' axed huh ag'in. Den she could 'a' said
yes all right an' proper widout a belittlin' huhse'f. But 'stead o'
dat he mus' go a ta'in' off jes' ez soon ez de fus' wo'ds come outen
huh mouf. Put' nigh brekin' huh hea't. I clah to goodness, I nevah did
see sich ca'in's on."

Several weeks passed before Bartley returned to his home. Autumn was
painting the trees about the place before the necessity of being at
his father's side called him from his voluntary exile. And then he did
not go to see Mima. He was still bowed with shame at what he thought
his unmanly presumption, and he did not blame her that she avoided
him.

His attention was arrested one day about a week after his return by
the peculiar actions of Mammy Peggy. She hung around him, and watched
him, following him from place to place like a spaniel.

Finally he broke into a laugh and said, "Why, what's the matter, Aunt
Peggy, are you afraid I'm going to run away?"