wful," Hertha said choking over the words: "you've
always advised and encouraged me, Sister. I wouldn't have kept on in
school but for you; and now I'll have to go ahead alone. I feel lost."

Ellen, much ashamed of her emotion, dried her eyes. "I've done all I
can, Hertha," she said solemnly, "after this you'll have to go alone."

A step was heard on the porch and a voice asked: "Is Miss Hertha there?"

"Yes, Mr. Lee," Mammy's voice answered; "Miss Hertha, she's right hyar.
Was you wantin' ter speak wid her?"

"Tell her I came to fetch her up to the house. My aunt is expecting
her."

"I won't go," Hertha whispered. "Tell him I won't go."

Ellen rose and left the room. Hertha heard her explain to the young man
that the white girl could not go away yet. "She is very tired, Mr. Lee,"
she declared, "and wants to remain here at present."

Lee seemed to demur but after a few minutes he left the house.

When he had gone Hertha walked into the living-room. There was the
familiar table, the straight-backed chairs, and the comfortable rocker;
there was the reading-lamp with its green shade and the china with the
pink flowers set upon the sideboard; there were the books upon the
shelf; and yet everything seemed strange. Did her own thoughts give it
unreality, her thoughts that roamed continually through the white world
that she was soon to enter, or was it the two people whom she so loved
who were already oddly constrained? "Miss Hertha," she had heard her
black mother say--the mother who had cared for her, had fed and clothed
her, had watched by her bedside in her illnesses. "Miss Hertha"! Was her
home to slip from her like this?

"Ellen," she cried, "I shall have to go away before long, I know that,
but don't push me out upon the Merryvales because I don't want to go."

"I'll do what I can," Ellen answered.

"Honey," her mammy exclaimed, "it don't seem like we could eber let you
leab us. Dis home been you's mo'n our own. But you is white, now, baby,
an' you can't be wid colored folks no mo'."

"Why can't I if I choose to?" Hertha asked, her mouth quivering. "I want
to stay here until I leave. I have to visit that lawyer soon and get my
money, and then, I suppose, I'll go somewhere up North. But while I'm in
Merryvale I want to be with you."

"Baby, I's feared it ain't de right way."

"Have you had anything to eat, Sister?" Ellen inquired. "This must have
been a terribly exciting day for you. I'll hurry and get sup