There was a soft rustle beside her--the presence of lips on her hand, and then Judithe was alone in the room, and stronger than when she had entered it so short a while since, braced by the certainty that here, at least, she had been of use--practical use her own eyes could see, and all the evening a bird sang in her heart, and the grateful touch of the bondwoman's lips gave her more pleasure than she could remember through the same tribute of any courtier. CHAPTER XXI. When Pluto brought her mail, an hour later, he tried to express more clearly in words the utter happiness showing through every feature of his dark face, but she stopped him with a little gesture. "I see you are glad--no need to tell it," she remarked, briefly; "if you want to thank me do it by helping any of your people whom you find in trouble. There are many of them, no doubt." And when Mrs. McVeigh thanked her for doing what she could not have done on such short notice, Judithe put the question aside quite as lightly. "The man is a very good groom," she remarked. "I enjoyed my ride the more today for having him along to answer all my curious questions of the country. I meant to give him 'backsheesh,' as the Orientals call it, so why not select what the fellow most wants--even though it be a pickaninny?" "Well, he certainly is singing your praises down in the cook-house. I even heard several 'hallelujas' from Aunt Dilsey's particular corner. Judge Clarkson has endorsed the check and will send a white man horseback with it to Larues in the morning. Pluto starts tonight on foot across country--says he can't sleep, any way--he's so happy. The women are arguing already as to which shall have the special care of Zekal. Altogether, you have created a sensation in the household, and we all love you for it." "What further recompense to be desired? It really is not worth so much of praise." "Kenneth will not think so when he comes home," and Kenneth's mother slipped her arm around the girl's shoulder affectionately, not noticing how her careless expression changed at mention of the name. "Oh! Will he, then, be interested in such small things as pickaninnies?" and her light words belied the look in her eyes. "Will he? Well, I should think so! You have done just what he would want done--what he would do if it were possible. For two generations the McVeighs have neither bought nor sold slaves"--Judithe's eyes shot one disdainful flash--"just kept those inherited; but I'm sure that boy of mine would have broken the rule for his generation in this case, and he'll be so grateful to you for it. Pluto was his playmate and respected monitor as a child, and Pluto's Zekal certainly will have a place in his affections."