William's children are gettin' so big, I can come out for the day 'most any time now, and if William's courtin' goes on all right, I reckon he won't be wantin' me much longer.

He's been waitin' on a young woman right steady for more'n six months, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if something was to come of it befo' summer." "Then you'd go South again, wouldn't you ?" There was a wistful sound in Gabriella's voice as she put the question.

Miss Polly was a tiresome person, but at least she was faithful, and long habit had established a bond of tolerance, if not of affection, between them.

In the last few months Gabriella had grown to look upon her as the one living association with her childhood, and she was so lonely that she dreaded to sever the single tie with the past that still remained to her.

"I believe she'd work her fingers to the bone for me, and, of course, she can't help being so garrulous," she thought.
"I reckon I will, if it comes to that, but I'd hate like anything to leave you and the children," answered Miss Polly.