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Then, not aate together Their broere fairly unclouded; no special marks of conflict remained; for they had met and conversed in a manner customary rather than unusual

They followed a branch of the brick walk and passed round the south side of the house, where a senerous prolanced the high lights to and fro on their polished green cheeks as a breeze hopped through the yard, while the shade beneath treolden plates A pattern of orange light and blue shadoas laid like a fanciful plaid over the lattice and the wide, slightly sagging steps of the elderly "back porch"; and here, taking her ease upon these steps, sat a ed coloured woman of continental proportions Beyond all contest, she was the largest coloured woht was not unusual, and she had a rather small face That is to say, as Florence had once explained to her, her face was small but the other parts of her head were terribly wide Beside her was a circular brown basket, of a type suggesting arts-and-crafts; it was made with a cover, and there was a bow of brown silk upon the handle

"What you been up to to-day, Kitty Silver?" Herbert asked genially "Any thing special?" For this was the sequel to his "so's we can see if Kitty Silver's got anything" But Mrs Silver discouraged hioin' to"

"I thought you pretty near always made cookies on Tuesday," he said

"Well, I ain't this Tuesday," said Kitty Silver "I ain't, and I ain't goin' to You oin' to"

Docility was no element of Mrs Silver's present aze wandered from her head to the brown basket beside her The basket did not interest hi it from his consciousness On the contrary, the ribbon had drawn Florence's attention, and she stared at the basket eagerly

"What you got there, Kitty Silver?" she asked

"What I got where?"

"In that basket"

"Neot 'n 'at basket," said Mrs Silver crossly, but added inconsistently: "I dess wish soot 'n 'at basket! I ain't no cat-oman fer nobody!"