of the noblest--"

"Good gracious! _I_ haven't 'passed judgment.' If she does talk
'baby-talk,' I imagine she does it very prettily, and I'm sure I've
no objection. And if she does do it, why should you be insulted by my
mentioning it?"

"It was the way you said it," he informed her, icily.

"Good gracious! I just said it!" Mrs. Baxter laughed, and then,
probably a little out of patience with him, she gave way to that innate
mischievousness in such affairs which is not unknown to her sex. "You
see, Willie, if she pretends to be a cunning little girl, it will be
helpful to Jane to listen and learn how."

William uttered a cry; he knew that he was struck, but he was not sure
how or where. He was left with a blank mind and no repartee. Again he
dashed from the room.

In the hall, near the open front door, he came to a sudden halt,
and Mrs. Baxter and Jane heard him calling loudly to the industrious
Genesis:

"Here! You go cut the grass in the back yard, and for Heaven's sake,
take that dog with you!"

"Grass awready cut roun' back," responded the amiable voice of Genesis,
while the lawnmower ceased not to whir. "Cut all 'at back yod 's
mawnin'."

"Well, you can't cut the front yard now. Go around in the back yard and
take that dog with you."

"Nemmine 'bout 'at back yod! Ole Clem ain' trouble nobody."

"You hear what I tell you?" William shouted. "You do what I say and you
do it quick!"

Genesis laughed gaily. "I got my grass to cut!"

"You decline to do what I command you?" William roared.

"Yes, indeedy! Who pay me my wages? 'At's MY boss. You' ma say,
'Genesis, you git all 'at lawn mowed b'fo' sundown.' No, suh! Nee'n'
was'e you' bref on me, 'cause I'm got all MY time good an' took up!"

Once more William presented himself fatefully to his mother and Jane.
"May I just kindly ask you to look out in the front yard?"

"I'm familiar with it, Willie," Mrs. Baxter returned, a little wearily.

"I mean I want you to look at Genesis."

"I'm familiar with his appearance, too," she said. "Why in the world do
you mind his cutting the grass?"

William groaned. "Do you honestly want guests coming to this house
to see that awful old darky out there and know that HE'S the kind of
servants we employ? Ye gods!"

"Why, Genesis is just a neighborhood outdoors darky, Willie; he works
for half a dozen families besides us. Everybody in this part of town
knows him."

"Yes," he cried, "but a lady that didn't live here