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"I do not knohat I mean, Macuh what you mean--that you are white as snow and I aether"

"No," I answered gravely, "snow is good to look at, and so is soot, but

ly colour Not that you are like soot," I added

hastily, fearing to hurt her feelings "That is your hue"--and I touched

a copper bangle she earing--"a very lovely hue, Ma else about you"

"Lovely," she said, beginning to weep a little, which upsetI hate, it is to see a woirl be lovely? Oh, Macuiven me the colour of my people and the

heart of yours If I hite, nohat you are pleased to call this

loveliness of mine would be of souess, Macumazahn?"

I shook my head and said that I could not, and nextto her knees--for ere quite alone in the big hut and there

was no one else about, all the other woed on rural or

domestic tasks, for which Mameena declared she had no time, as her

business was to look after an to talk in a loeet voice that sometimes broke into a sob