"I don't know what you-all are a-goin' ter think of me, but I'm bound ter tell you just the same,--seems like I got ter,--even if you-all was ter lick me for hit like pap used ter." "Why, Judy, dear," the puzzled man returned, soothingly, "you know I would never strike you, no matter what you did.

Come, sit down here on this log, and tell me about whatever it is that troubles you; then you can go back to sleep again." "I ain't a-wantin' ter set down.

I ain't been asleep.

Hit seems like I can't never sleep no more." She wrung her hands and turned her poor twisted body about nervously; then demanded with startling abruptness: "When do you-all 'low she'll git back ?" The wondering Brian did not at first catch her meaning, and she continued, with an impatient jerk of her head: "Hit's that there gal with the no-'count name, Betty Jo, I'm a-talkin' 'bout." "Oh, you mean Miss Williams," Brian returned.

"Why, I suppose she will be back in two or three weeks, or a month, perhaps; I don't know exactly, Judy.