She motioned for Hasty to put the tray on the table, and
then began arranging the dishes. Hasty stole to the window, and
peeped out at the tempting flare of red fire.
When Douglas discovered the presence of his two "faithfuls" he
was touched with momentary contrition. He knew that he often
neglected to chat with them now, and he made an effort to say
something that might restore the old feeling of comradeship.
"Have you had a hard day with the new gravel walk?" he asked
Hasty, remembering that he had been laying a fresh path to the
Sunday-school- room.
Hasty glanced uneasily at Mandy, afraid either to lie or tell the
truth about the disposition she had made of his afternoon.
"Jes' you come eat yo' supper," Mandy called to Douglas. "Don'
yous worry your head 'bout dat lazy husban' ob mine. He ain'
goin' ter work 'nuff. to hurt hisself." For an instant she had
been tempted to let the pastor know how Hasty had gone to the
circus and seen nothing of Polly; but her motherly instinct won
the day and she urged him to eat before disturbing him with her
own anxieties. It was no use. He only toyed with his food; he
was clearly ill at ease and eager to be alone. She gave up
trying to tempt his appetite, and began to lead up in a
roundabout way to the things which she wished to ask.
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