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Phaedre put down a dish of tea and a saucer of cake by his side, but Jocasta continued to hold his left hand He found that odd, but the unexpected atin his request

He put it simply; he had heard the Reverend make such requests for charity before, and kneas best to let the situation speak for itself, leaving ultimate decision to the conscience of the hearer

Jocasta listened carefully, a small furroeen her brows He’d expected her to pause for thought when he’d finished, but instead she replied at once

"Aye," she said, "I ken Joanie Findlay, and her brother, too Ye’re right, her husband was carried off by the consuone Jaer felt mildly foolish

Jocasta nodded She leaned back a little, pursing her lips in thought

"It’s no just a lad of the chance But she’s a proud woman, Joan Findlay--she willna take charity" Her voice held a slight note of reproval, as though Roger ought to have realized that

Perhaps he should, he thought But he had acted on the impulse of the moment, moved by the Findlays’ poverty It hadn’t occurred to him that if she had little else, it would be thatto her one valuable possession--her pride

"I see," he said slowly "But surely--there must be a way to help that wouldn’t offer offense?"

Jocasta tilted her head slightly to one side, then the other, in a small mannerism that he found peculiarly familiar Of course--Bree did that now and then, when she was considering soht--for the wedding, aye?--the Findlays will be there, of course, and well-fed It wouldna be amiss for Ulysses to make up a wee parcel of food for the, after all" She smiled briefly, then the look of concentration returned to her features

"The priest," she said, with a sudden air of satisfaction

"Priest? Ye mean Father Donahue?"

One thick, burnished brow lifted at him

"Ye ken another priest on the mountain? Aye, of course I do" She lifted her free hand, and Phaedre, ever alert, came to her mistress’s side

"Miss Jo?"

"Look out so the maid’s arm "Blankets, caps, an apron or two; breeks and plain shirts--the grooer put in quickly, thinking of the little girls’ dirty bare feet

"Stockings" Jocasta nodded "Plain stuff, but good wool and well-s--sterling--and wrap it in one o’ the aprons Then s and take them to Father Donahue Tell him they’re for Joan Findlay, but he’s no to say where they’ve coain, satisfied, and dropped her hand froesture

"Off wi’ ye, then--see to it now"

Phaedreonly to shake out the blue thing she had been sewing and fold it carefully over her stool It was a decorated stoant lacing of ribbons He had a sudden vision of Brianna’s white brsts, swelling above a low neckline of dark indigo, and returned to the conversation at hand with so your pardon,at hih she had been able to read his thoughts Her eyes were blue, like Jamie’s and Bree’s, but not so dark They were fixed on him--or at least pointed at hiive the eerie ih him

"Yes, Mrs Caht his feet under hio of his hand at once, but instead, she tightened her grip, restraining him