but me, even the niggers.
Parties, and picnics, and weddin's and all--Oh, my, but don't I _wisht_
I was Miss Jemmy!"

Evidently the wedding preparations had stirred longings in more hearts
than Philip's.

"Even if she is marryin' an old man an' a cast-off beau of her ma's,
look at the ring he give her! A di'mon' big as my thumb-nail. She let me
put it on my finger once, and it looked grand. Oh, my, I'd do 'most
anything for a ring like that!"

"Would you, really, Mag?" he asked curiously, wondering at the
fascination shining bits of stone possess for women far more civilized
than this little savage. "Do you think a diamond ring would make you any
happier?"

"In co'se it would," she said, impatiently.

"Why?"

"Oh, I dunno--it would make me look prettier, I expect."

He said, kindly: "You do not need to look any prettier. You are quite
pretty enough, as it is."

Her whole expression changed. She gave him a conscious upward glance.
"Am I? Why, Mr. Philip, I never thought a preacher'd notice how a gal
looked!"

It told him all and more than he wanted to know. He continued to meet
her gaze with grave eyes, and after a moment her own dropped.

"'T ain't much use bein' pretty round here," she muttered. "The city's
the place for pretty gals."

"Who told you that? The drummer I saw you talking with behind the
village store a few days ago?"

She tossed her head. "Well, what if it was? I got the right to pass the
time o' day with a fellow, ain't I? You'd suppose I was in prison!"

Philip sought out his lady again with a troubled heart. "Sorry to croak
any more at this busy time, but Mag will bear watching. She's been seen
about with men once or twice lately."

Kate sighed with exasperation. "'Give a dog a bad name.' I shall have to
acquire the hundred eyes of Argus to keep up with my household nowadays,
it seems!"

It was not the first warning that had come to her about her protegee.
Big Liza, for years her confidential friend and ally, had said to her
one day: "Dat white gal ain't keerin' so much about de chile no mo',
Miss Kate. She's allus a-leavin' her with me, ef Miss Jacky ain't got
her. Gawd He knows I ain't complainin' about havin' a chile aroun',
seein' as how I done raise nine of my own, right heah under ma kitchen
stove, like so many little puppy-dawgs. But dey wuz cullud chillun, an'
dat's diffunt. Is dishyer hot kitchen any place to raise up a w'ite
chile in? Now I ax you! 'Pears to me like dat g