Yaas'm, I done mek Miss Deb wash her face an' say her prayers.

Kin I go now ?" Alone, Jacqueline stood for a minute beside the sleeping child, then bent and kissed Deb's brown neck.

Moving to a window, she sat down before it, resting her arm upon the sill and her head upon her arm.
Outside the window grew a giant fir tree, shading the room, and giving it at times an aspect too cold and northern.

But Jacqueline loved the tree, and loved and fed the birds that in winter perched upon the dark boughs.

Now, between the needles, the eastern sky looked blue and cold.
Jacqueline, sitting idle, felt her eyes fill with slow tears.