North."

"I had no thought of anything so basely ungrateful to you."

"Others have, then. But Hertha's not restless like that sister of hers,
Ellen--though I'm sure they're no relation. I can't endure that girl.
Her influence isn't good over my maid."

"Have I seen Ellen yet?"

"No and you won't see her about this place. She teaches in the colored
school."

"How interesting! I shall have to go to her."

Miss Patty's face showed disapproval bordering on disgust. Miss
Witherspoon was not the first of her guests who had at once expressed an
interest in Ellen, and, later, helped on the already over-prosperous
school. She turned the conversation back to her favorite.

"There are not many girls like Hertha to be found to-day. She has a
natural aptitude for service, and her white blood makes her very
intelligent. My cousin, Carrie (she died in Savannah two years ago), had
a maid like that who was the most faithful creature--her constant nurse
for fifteen years."

"Indeed!"

"I'm fixing to have Hertha with me for as long as I live."

"But don't you think she'll get married--she's so pretty."

"I hope not; I certainly hope not. I don't encourage her to go out to
any of the parties with the rough boys and girls here. But she herself
realizes that she's above them in station. No, Hertha will do much
better not to marry. I can understand her falling in love with a colored
man of her own complexion, but we haven't confidence in the 'yaller
niggers,' as the darkies call them. They have the bad qualities of both
races, you know; they're a thieving lot."

"Yes?" ejaculated Miss Witherspoon, and then, a little maliciously,
"Does Hertha steal?"

"Hertha? Why, of course not!" Miss Patty looked very indignant. "Have
you lost anything?"

"No, no," Miss Witherspoon answered quickly, anxious to make her
question clear. "I only thought you said that all mulattoes stole."

There are few things more exasperating than to have one's generalities
taken literally. Miss Patty felt provoked both for herself and for her
maid. "Hertha," she explained, with some feeling, "is an unusual girl,
with, I reckon, an unusual heritage. It is of benefit to her to stay
here in private service with a lady. She is an affectionate child and a
great favorite with me. As I grow older I hope she will want to stay and
make life pleasant for me as I have tried to make it pleasant for her."

At that moment Hertha came to where they sat upon the porch.