s hair.

"That's all right, dearie," he said. "Now don't you worry about that.
We didn't know who did it, but now we do and it's all right. We know you
didn't mean to."

"Won't--won't he knock my head off?"

"No, no, course he won't. Tell her so, Shadrach."

Captain Shadrach pulled at his beard. Then he burst into a laugh.

"I won't hurt you for nothin', sis," he said, heartily. "It's all right
and don't you fret about it. Accidents will happen even in the best
regulated--er--funerals; though," with a broad grin, "I hope another one
like that'll never happen to ME. Now don't you cry any more."

Mary-'Gusta raised her head and regarded him steadily.

"Won't I be put in jail?" she asked, more hopefully.

"Indeed you won't. I never put anybody in jail in my life; though," with
an emphatic nod, "there's some folks ought to go there for frightenin'
children out of their senses. Did that Mrs. Hobbs tell you I was goin'
to--what was it?--knock your head off and all the rest?"

"Yes, sir, she did."

"Well, she's a--she's what she is. What else did she say to you?"

"She--she said I was a bad, wicked child and she hoped I'd be sent to
the--the orphans' home. If she was to have the care of me, she said,
she'd make me walk a chalk or know why. And she sent me to my room and
said I couldn't have any supper."

Zoeth and the Captain looked at each other. Baxter frowned.

"On the very day of her father's funeral," he muttered.

"Can't I have any supper?" begged Mary-'Gusta. "I'm awful hungry; I
didn't want much dinner."

Zoeth nodded. His tone, when he spoke, was not so mild as was usual with
him.

"You shall have your supper," he said.

"And--and must I go to the orphans' home?"

No one answered at once. Zoeth and Captain Shad again looked at each
other and the Judge looked at them both.

"Must I?" repeated Mary-'Gusta. "I--I don't want to. I'd rather die, I
guess, and go to Heaven, same as Mother and Father. But Mrs. Hobbs says
they don't have any dolls nor cats in Heaven, so I don't know's I'd want
to go there."

Baxter walked to the window and looked out. Captain Shadrach reached
into his pocket, produced a crumpled handkerchief, and blew his nose
violently. Zoeth stroked the child's hair.

"Mary-'Gusta," he said, after a moment, "how would you like to go over
to South Harniss and--and see me and Cap'n Gould a little while? Just
make us a visit, you know. Think you'd like that?"

The Captain started. "G