elds. Marie
Louise's was the nearest at hand and towards it he directed his steps.

The big good-natured negress had seen his approach from the window,
for she opened the door to him before he had time to knock, and
entering he saw Fanny seated before the fire holding a pair of very
wet smoking feet to dry. His first sensation was one of relief at
finding her safe and housed. His next, one of uncertainty as to the
kind and degree of resentment which he felt confident must now show
itself. But this last was soon dispelled, for turning, she greeted him
with a laugh. He would have rather a blow. That laugh said so many
things--too many things. True, it removed the dread which had been
haunting him all day, but it shattered what seemed to have been now
his last illusion regarding this woman. That unsounded chord which he
feared he had touched was after all but one in harmony with the rest
of her common nature. He saw too at a glance that her dominant passion
had been leading and now controlled her. And by one of those rapid
trains of thought in which odd and detached fancies, facts,
impressions and observations form themselves into an orderly sequence
leading to a final conviction--all was made plain to him that before
had puzzled him. She need not have told him her reason for crossing
the river, he knew it. He dismissed at once the attitude with which he
had thought to approach her. Here was no forgiveness to be asked of
dulled senses. No bending in expiation of faults committed. He was
here as master.

"Fanny, what does this mean?" he asked in cold anger; with no heat
now, no passion.

"Yaas, me tell madame, she goin' fur ketch cole si she don' mine out.
Dat not fur play dat kine wedder, no. Teck chair, M'sieur; dry
you'se'f leet beet. Me mek you one cup coffee."

Hosmer declined the good Marie Louise's kind proffer of coffee, but he
seated himself and waited for Fanny to speak.

"You know if you want a thing done in this place, you've got to do it
yourself. I've heard you say it myself, time and time again about
those people at the mill," she said.

"Could it have been so urgent as to call you out on a day like this,
and with such a perilous crossing? Couldn't you have found some one
else to come for you?"

"Who? I'd like to know. Just tell me who? It's nothing to you if we're
without servants, but I'm not going to stand it. I ain't going to let
Samp_son_ act like that without knowing what he means," said Fanny