n its father's lap.

Vinnie remembered the swarthy face, bushy beard, and hooked nose; and
yet she could hardly believe that this was the same man who once showed
her such ruffianly manners on the wharf in Chicago. He was fondling and
feeding the child, and talking to it, and drumming on the table with his
knife to amuse it and still its complaining cries.

"Surely," thought Vinnie, "there must be some good in a man who shows so
much affection even toward his own child." And with growing courage she
advanced to the threshold.

Mrs. Peakslow--a much-bent, over-worked woman, with a pinched and
peevish face--looked up quickly across the table and stared at the
strange visitor. In a moment all eyes were turned upon Vinnie.

"I beg your pardon," she said, pausing at the door. "I wish to get a
pail of water. Can I go to your well and help myself?"

The children--and especially Dud and Zeph--looked in astonishment at the
bright face and girlish form in the doorway. As Mr. Peakslow turned his
face toward her, all the tenderness went out of it.

"What do Betterson's folks send here for water for? And what makes 'em
send a gal? Why don't they come themselves?"

"They did not send me," Vinnie answered as pleasantly as she could. "I
came of my own accord."

Peakslow wheeled round on his chair.

"Queer sort of folks, they be! An' seems to me you must be queer, to be
stoppin' with 'em."

"Mrs. Betterson is my sister," replied Vinnie in a trembling voice. "I
came to her because she is sick, and Cecie--because I was needed," she
said, avoiding the dangerous ground of Zeph's offence.

"I've nothin' pa'tic'lar ag'in Mis' Betterson as I know on," said
Peakslow, "though of course she sides with him ag'in me, an' of course
_you_ side with _her_."

"I've nothing to do with Mr. Betterson's quarrels," Vinnie answered,
drawing back from the door. "Will you kindly permit me to get a pail of
water? I am sorry if I give you any trouble."

"No trouble; water's cheap," said Peakslow. "But why don't they have a
well o' their own, 'ste'd o' dependin' on their neighbors? What makes
'em so plaguy shif'less?"

"They have a well, but it is dry this summer, and--"

"Dry every summer, ain't it? What a way to dig a well that was!"

"They have a very good spring," Vinnie said, "but something happened to
it last night." At which Dud and Zeph giggled and looked sheepish.

"What happened to the spring?"

"Somebody put rubbish into it."

"