et away from him. But
ye don't mean to say yer think yer not good enough--such as ye are--for
this snip of an old maid, ez big as a gold dollar, and as yaller?"

"Aunty," said Jeff, dropping his boyish manner, and his color as
suddenly, "I'd rather ye wouldn't talk that way of Miss Mayfield. Ye
don't know her; and there's times," he added, with a sigh, "ez I reckon
ye don't quite know ME either. That young lady, bein' sick, likes to be
looked after. Any one can do that for her. She don't mind who it is. She
don't care for me except for that, and," added Jeff humbly, "it's quite
natural."

"I didn't say she did," returned Aunt Sally viciously; "but seeing ez
you've got an empty house yer on yer hands, and me a-slavin' here on
jist nothin', if this gal, for the sake o' gallivantin' with ye for a
spell, chooses to stay here and keep her family here, and pay high
for it, I don't see why it ain't yer duty to Providence and me to take
advantage of it."

Jeff raised his eyes to his aunt's face. For the first time it struck
him that she might be his father's sister and yet have no blood in her
veins that answered to his. There are few shocks more startling and
overpowering to original natures than this sudden sense of loneliness.
Jeff could not speak, but remained looking fiercely at her.

Aunt Sally misinterpreted his silence, and returned to her work on the
pies. "The gal ain't no fool," she continued, rolling out the crust as
if she were laying down broad propositions. "SHE reckons on it too, ez
if it was charged in the bill with the board and lodging. Why, didn't
she say to me, last night, that she kalkilated afore she went away to
bring up some friends from 'Frisco for a few days' visit? and didn't she
say, in that pipin', affected voice o' hers, 'I oughter make some return
for yer kindness and yer nephew's kindness, Aunt Sally, by showing
people that can help you, and keep your house full, how pleasant it is
up here.' She ain't no fool, with all her faintin's and dyin's away! No,
Jeff Briggs. And if she wants to show ye off agin them city fellows ez
she knows, and ye ain't got spunk enough to stand up and show off with
her--why"--she turned her head impatiently, but he was gone.

If Jeff had ever wavered in his resolution he would have been steady
enough NOW. But he had never wavered; the convictions and resolutions of
suddenly awakened character are seldom moved by expediency. He was
eager to taste the bitter dregs