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〃But I didn't come home to set the county afire；〃 she said。 〃Why； Aunt Saidie； what queer； coarse china！ What's become of the white…and…gold set I used to like？〃
A purple flush mounted； slowly to Miss Saidie's forehead。
〃I was afraid it would chip； so I packed it away；〃 she explained。 〃Me and Brother Bill ain't used to any better than this； so we don't notice。 Things will have to be mighty fine now； I reckon； since you've got back。 You were always particular about looks； I remember。〃
〃Was I？〃 asked Maria curiously； glancing down into the plate before her。 For the last few years she had schooled herself to despise what she called the 〃silly luxuries of living；〃 and yet the heavy white cup which Miss Saidie handed her； and the sound of Fletcher drinking his coffee； aroused in her the old poignant disgust。
〃I don't think I'm over particular now；〃 she added pleasantly； 〃but we may as well get out the other china tomorrow； I think。〃
〃You won't find many fancy ways hereeh； Saidie？〃 inquired Fletcher； with a chuckle。 〃Thar's been a precious waste of victuals on this place； but it's got to stop。 I ain't so sure you did a wise thing in coming back；〃 he finished abruptly； turning his bloodshot eyes on his granddaughter。
〃You aren't？ Well； I am；〃 laughed Maria； 〃and I promise you that you shan't find me troublesome except in the matter of china。〃
〃Then you must have changed your skin； I reckon。〃
〃Changed？ Why； I have； of course。 Six years isn't a day； you know； and I've been in many places。〃 Then； as a hint of interest awoke in his eyes； she talked on rapidly； describing her years abroad and the strange cities in which she had lived。 Before she had finished； Fletcher had pushed his plate away and sat listening with the ghost of a smile upon his face。
〃Well； you'll do； I reckon；〃 he said at the end； and； pushing back his chair； he rose from his place and stamped out into the hall。
When he had gone into his sitting…room and closed the door behind him； Miss Saidie nodded smilingly； as she measured out the servant's sugar in a cracked saucer。 〃He's brighter than I've seen him for days；〃 she said； 〃and now； if you want to go upstairs； Malindy has jest lighted your fire。 She had to carry the wood up while we were at supper； so Brother Bill wouldn't see it。 He hates even to burn a log； though they are strewn round loose all over the place。〃
Maria； was feeding Agag on the hearth； and she waited until he had finished before she took up her hat and wraps and went toward the door。 〃Oh； you needn't bother to light me；〃 she said； waving Miss Saidie back when she would have followed。 〃Why； I could find my way over this house at midnight without a candle。〃 Then； with a cheerful 〃Goodnight；〃 she called Agag and went up the dusky staircase。
A wood fire was burning in her room； and she stood for a moment looking pensively into the flames； a faint smile sketched about her mouth。 Then throwing off her black dress in the desire for freedom； she clasped her hands above her head and paced slowly up and down the shadowy length of the room。 In the flowing measure of her walk； in the free； almost defiant； movement of her upraised arms； and in the ample lines of her throat and bosom； which melted gradually into the low curves of her hips； she might have stood for an incarnation of vital force。 One felt instinctively that her personality would be active rather than passivethat the events which she attracted to herself would be profoundly emotional in their fulfilment。
Notwithstanding the depressing hour she had just passed； and the old vulgarity which had shocked her with a new violence； she was conscious； moving to and fro in the shadows； of a strange happinessof a warmth of feeling which pervaded her from head to foot； which fluttered in her temples and burned like firelight in her open palms。 The place was home to her； she realised at last； and the surroundings of her married lifethe foreign towns and the enchanting Italian sceneryshowed in her memory with a distant and alien beauty。 Here was what she loved； for here was her right； her heritagethe desolate red roads； the luxuriant tobacco fields； the primitive and ignorant people。 In her heart there was no regret for any past that she had known； for over the wild country stretching about her now there hung a romantic and mysterious haze。
A little later she was aroused from her reverie by Miss Saidie； who came in with a lighted lamp in her hand。
〃Don't you need a light； Maria？ I never could abide to sit in the dark。〃
〃Oh； yes； bring it in。 There； put it on the bureau and sit down by the fire； for I want to talk to you。 No； I'm not a bit tired； I am only trying to fit myself again in this room。 Why； I don't believe you've changed a pin in the pincushion since I went away。〃
Miss Saidie dusted the top of the bureau with her apron before she placed the tall glass lamp upon it。
〃Thar warn't anybody to stay in it；〃 she answered； as she sat down in a deep； cretonne…covered chair and pushed back the hickory log with her foot。 〃I declare； Maria； I don't see what you want to traipse around with that little poor…folksy yaller dog for。 He puts me in mind of the one that old blind nigger up the road used to have。〃
〃Does he？〃 asked Maria absently； in the voice of one whose thoughts are hopelessly astray。
She was standing by the window； holding aside the curtain of flowered chintz； and after a moment she added curiously： 〃There's a light in the fields； Aunt Saidie。 What does it mean？〃
Crossing the room； Miss Saidie followed the gesture with which Maria pointed into the night。
〃That's on the Blake place；〃 she said； 〃it must be Mr。 Christopher moving about with his lantern。〃
〃You call him Mr。 Christopher？〃
〃Oh； it slipped out。 His father's name was Christopher before him； and I used to open the gate for him when I was a child。 Many and many a time the old gentleman's given me candy out of his pocket； or a quarter to buy a present； and one Christmas he brought me a real wax doll from the city。 He wasn't old then； I can tell you； and he was as handsome as if he had stepped out of a fashion plate。 Why； young Mr。 Christopher can't hold a candle to him for looks。〃
〃He was a gentleman； then？ I mean the old man。〃
〃Who？ Mr。 Christopher's father？ I don't reckon thar was a freer or a finer between here and London。〃
Maria's gaze was still on the point of light which twinkled faintly here and there in the distant field。
〃Then how； in heaven's name； did he come to this？〃 she asked； in a voice that was hardly louder than a whisper。
〃I never knew； I never knew；〃 protested Miss Saidie； going back to her chair beside the hearth。 〃Brother Bill and he hate each other worse than death； and it was Will's fancy for Mr。 Christopher that brought on this awful trouble。 For a time； I declare it looked as if the boy was really bewitched； and they were together morning； noon； and night。 Your grandpa never got over it； and I believe he blames Mr。 Christopher for every last thing that's happenedMolly Peterkin and all。〃
〃Molly Peterkin？〃 repeated Maria inquiringly。 〃Why； how absurd！ And； after all； what is the matter with the girl？〃 Dropping the curtain； she came over to th