Very much, almost as much as he feared her, and the thought of her

being carried away in a black hearse behind black horses with

plumes on their bridles made his small chest ache so that he could

hardly breathe.

When noon came and Peter was busy in the kitchen, Wade slipped out

the front door and hurried home as fast as his short legs could

carry him, fear speeding him. Uncle Rhett or Aunt Melly or Mammy

surely would tell him the truth. But Uncle Rhett and Aunt Melly

were not to be seen and Mammy and Dilcey sped up and down the back

stairs with towels and basins of hot water and did not once notice

him in the front hall. From upstairs he could hear occasionally

the curt tones of Dr. Meade whenever a door opened. Once he heard

his mother groan and he burst into sobbing hiccoughs. He knew she

was going to die. For comfort, he made overtures to the honey-

colored cat which lay on the sunny window sill in the front hall.

But Tom, full of years and irritable at disturbances, switched his

tail and spat softly.

Finally, Mammy, coming down the front stairs, her apron rumpled and

spotted, her head rag awry, saw him and scowled. Mammy had always

been Wade's mainstay and her frown made him tremble.

"You is de wustes' boy Ah ever seed," she said. "Ain' Ah done sont

you ter Miss Pitty's? Gwan back dar!"

"Is Mother going to--will she die?"

"You is de troublesomes' chile Ah ever seed! Die? Gawdlmighty,

no! Lawd, boys is a tawment. Ah doan see why de Lawd sen's boys

ter folks. Now, gwan way from here."

But Wade did not go. He retreated behind the portieres in the

hall, only half convinced by her words. The remark about the

troublesomeness of boys stung, for he had always tried his best to

be good. Aunt Melly hurried down the stairs half an hour later,

pale and tired but smiling to herself. She looked thunderstruck

when she saw his woebegone face in the shadows of the drapery.

Usually Aunt Melly had all the time in the world to give him. She

never said, as Mother so often did: "Don't bother me now. I'm in

a hurry" or "Run away, Wade. I am busy."

But this morning she said: "Wade, you've been very naughty. Why

didn't you stay at Aunt Pitty's?"

"Is Mother going to die?"

"Gracious, no, Wade! Don't be a silly child," and then, relenting:

"Dr. Meade has just brought her a nice little baby, a sweet little

sister for you to play with, and if you are real good you can see

her tonight. Now, run out and play and don't make any noise."

Wade slipped into the quiet dining room, his small and insecure

world tottering. Was there no place for a worried little seven-

year-old boy on this sunshiny day when the grown-ups acted so

curiously? He sat down on the window still in the alcove and

nibbled a bit of the elephant's ear which grew in a box in the sun.

It was so peppery that it stung his eyes to tears and he began to

cry. Mother was probably dying, nobody paid him any heed and one

and all, they rushed about because of a new baby--a girl baby.

Wade had little interest in babies, still less in girls. The only

little girl he knew intimately was Ella and, so far, she had done

nothing to command his respect or liking.

After a long interval Dr. Meade and Uncle Rhett came down the

stairs and stood talking in the hall in low voices. After the door

shut behind the doctor, Uncle Rhett came swiftly into the dining

room and poured himself a large drink from the decanter before he

saw Wade. Wade shrank back, expecting to be told again that he was

naughty and must return to Aunt Pitty's, but instead, Uncle Rhett

smiled. Wade had never seen him smile like that or look so happy

and, encouraged, he leaped from the sill and ran to him.

"You've got a sister," said Rhett, squeezing him. "By God, the

most beautiful baby you ever saw! Now, why are you crying?"

"Mother--"

"Your mother's eating a great big dinner, chicken and rice and

gravy and coffee, and we're going to make her some ice cream in a

little while and you can have two plates if you want them. And

I'll show you your sister too."

Weak with relief, Wade tried to be polite about his new sister but

failed. Everyone was interested in this girl. No one cared

anything about him any more, not even Aunt Melly or Uncle Rhett.

"Uncle Rhett," he began, "do people like girls better than boys?"

Rhett set down his glass and looked sharply into the small face and

instant comprehension came into his eyes.

"No, I can't say they do," he answered seriously, as though giving

the matter due thought. "It's just that girls are more trouble

than boys and people are apt to worry more about troublesome people

than those who aren't."

"Mammy just said boys were troublesome."

"Well, Mammy was upset. She didn't mean it."

"Uncle Rhett, wouldn't you rather have had a little boy than a

little girl?" questioned Wade hopefully.

"No," answered Rhett swiftly and, seeing the boy's face fall, he

continued: "Now, why should I want a boy when I've already got

one?"

"You have?" cried Wade, his mouth falling open at this information.

"Where is he?"

"Right here," answered Rhett and, picking the child up, drew him to

his knee. "You are boy enough for me, son."

For a moment, the security and happiness of being wanted was so

great that Wade almost cried again. His throat worked and he

ducked his head against Rhett's waistcoat.

"You are my boy, aren't you?"

"Can you be--well, two men's boy?" questioned Wade, loyalty to the

father he had never known struggling with love for the man who held

him so understandingly.

"Yes," said Rhett firmly. "Just like you can be your mother's boy

and Aunt Melly's, too."

Wade digested this statement. It made sense to him and he smiled

and wriggled against Rhett's arm shyly.

"You understand little boys, don't you, Uncle Rhett?"

Rhett's dark face fell into its old harsh lines and his lip

twisted.

"Yes," he said bitterly, "I understand little boys."

For a moment, fear came back to Wade, fear and a sudden sense of

jealousy. Uncle Rhett was not thinking of him but of some one

else.

"You haven't got any other little boys have you?"

Rhett set him on his feet.

"I'm going to have a drink and so are you, Wade, your first drink,

a toast to your new sister."

"You haven't got any other--" began Wade and then seeing Rhett

reach for the decanter of claret, the excitement at being included