Part 3 (2/2)

”What a strange notion, Tom. I'd be lonesome there.”

”Oh, there'd be lots to do. Church every Sunday, and picnics, and excursions. You're so pretty, you'd be the best liked girl in the place.”

Hertha laughed. ”Now, don't you begin to plan for me! I like it right where I am at home.”

”Most girls marry,” Tom remarked after a few moments, ”and so do most fellers. The boys round here ain't your kind. I don't wonder you don't notice 'em. But they's fine chaps down there,” pointing down the stream, ”lawyers, and doctors and teachers.”

The girl looked at her brother a little curiously as though wondering if he meant more than he said.

”Well, this is the first time you've tried to marry me off! Mammy talks that way and Ellen wants me to choose a career, but I thought you loved Merryvale like I do and were only sorry to go away.”

”It's natural for the human being ter marry,” Tom went on sententiously.

”Don't think I will though,” he added, ”Ef you marry you don't have a chance to think. Now it might be, jest as I was thinking something very important, my wife 'ud interrupt and have a baby!”

There was a finality in this remark that left them in silence, and dropping plans for the future they watched the light clouds gather in ma.s.ses in the deep blue sky until it was time to start homeward.

When they were within a short distance of the great house, rain began to fall, and by the time they had reached the live-oaks there was a downpour.

”Come up here,” Lee Merryvale called authoritatively from the porch.

It was the front porch and they had no thought of setting foot on it, expecting instead to run for shelter to the kitchen door. Hertha moved forward but Tom drew back until Merryvale again commanded them to come.

”You're wet,” he said to Hertha as she stepped on the porch. And then turning sharply to Tom: ”Can't you take care of your sister better than this?”

”I'm all right,” Hertha said quickly, abashed at the importance given to her. ”Come up, Tom,” she said calling to him, but he remained standing in the rain.

”You can go home if you want,” Lee Merryvale nodded his head toward Tom, ”and Hertha can stay here until it stops. Don't you know we're sure to have a shower in the afternoon?”

”It arrived ahead of time to-day,” Hertha explained. And then noting Tom on the wet sand, the rain beginning to soak through his coat, her motherliness got the better of her embarra.s.sment. ”Come up on the porch,” she said coaxingly. ”I'll run upstairs and get a coat I keep here for just such a time as this. I won't be a moment. Please!”

He mounted the steps to please her and then walked to the end that was furthest from Merryvale.

The white man sat down in a porch chair, threw his head back, crossed his knees, and began to smoke.

”You smoke, Tom?”

”No, sir.”

”The first thing you'll do when you go to school will be to smoke; not because you like it but because it's against the rules. Break all the rules you can, my boy, and get sent home, for you're needed here.”

”Naw,” Tom replied turning at him and almost snarling, ”I ain't no use.”

Young Merryvale regarded the boy with some amazement, then noting the grimness of his expression, said nothing further. In a moment Hertha, wearing her long coat, came down the stairs and she and her brother went on their way.

Before he went to his room that night, Tom spoke a word alone with Ellen. ”Don't let Sister grieve too much,” he said.

Ellen looked at him sadly. ”You put me in a very hard position, Tom. You make me seem almost cruel.”

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