rself. She was fearful when Ellen started in this
serious tone, dreading too careful an analysis of their emotions.
Understanding this the older woman spoke.

"Honey, dear," she said looking at Hertha with moist eyes, "you's gwine
away alone, for we's alone ef we ain't wid some'un we lobes. I 'spects
it gwine ter be mighty hard fer you, but ef eber you's discouraged jes'
'member dat here in dis lil' cabin dere's you' sister an' you' mammy,
lobin' yer an' prayin' fer yer day an' night. You's close in our hearts,
foreber and eber, an' we knows we's close in yours.

"But, honey, dar's anudder t'ing. Keep us in you' heart, but don' try
ter lib in our worl', not at fust. It ain't gwine ter be so easy, allus
ter remember as you's white. You can't fergit a lifetime in a day. An'
it's mighty mean ter be swingin' fust on one foot, den on de udder, not
knowin' whar you stan'. When yer gits yer place firm in de white worl',
den yer kin turn back ter look at de black. But not now, dearie, not
now."

Hertha could not speak, but she nodded her head in acceptance of her
exile.

"We don't need to worry," Ellen said with a laugh that had a sob in it.
"We sha'n't have to wait long. You'll soon stand on both your feet."

"I ain't gwine ter de dock," Mammy announced when Ellen in a moment said
it was time for them to leave. "I don't wan' no white folks starin' at
me an' talkin'; I'se gwine to say good-by hyar in my home. Baby,"
turning to the child of her adoption, "you's so pretty-like, allus be
good."

"Yes, Mammy," Hertha promised.

"Lay you' head on my breas'. Dere! Lil lamb, you's gwine out inter de
worl' alone. But you know de way ter safety. Lobe de Lord Jesus. Don'
never forgit Him fer a moment, but keep close ter His bosom."

On the dock Miss Witherspoon was fidgeting among the hand-luggage. She
looked annoyed when Hertha came up with Ellen. "Oh, here you are," she
said. "Don't you think you had better express this bag? No. Why not? But
I thought I explained to you that you could express it on the train.
However, it doesn't much matter. How many pieces of hand-luggage have
you? Two? And you have two other things to carry, your hand-bag and your
umbrella. It's always well to count the number of pieces you have and
then when you get up from your seat you can go over them--one, two,
three, four. Do you see? I'm sorry though that you didn't pack so that
you could express one of the bags through."

Ellen looked on, feeling t