"No, Serena, I can't eat. I don't believe that I will ever want to eat again." A paroxysm of sobs wrenched the little frame of the girl and she dabbed frantically with a moist handkerchief at the great tears which welled up in the blue eyes. The springs of the bed groaned and strained as Serena seated herself upon its edge. A gentle mothering look was in her face, and she began to rub the white arm gently with her big black hand. "Res' youse'f, ma li'l honey baby," she murmured. "Serena ain' gwine let nobody hu't her baby gal." Suddenly she bristled. "Dis yere hu'tin' ma honey chil' bettah stop. Ah bus' somebody plum wide open," she growled ferociously. "Ah fights fo' ma baby agin de whole wo'ld." The girl's sobs lessened enough for her to speak. "I am going away, Serena." "Whar you gwine go, chil'?" exclaimed the old woman with much excitement. "I am going to Aunt Kate's home in Maine." "W'en is we gwine start?" "I go day after tomorrow," explained Virginia sorrowfully. "You stay here, Serena." "Howcum? Who plan dat foolishness? Wot gwine keep me heah w'en ma honey chil' done leave? Ah bets ah follers ma baby ef ah has to clim' ba'foot th'ough fiah an' brimstone. Yas'r." "You must stay and take care of my father, Serena." "Wot ah wor'y 'bout him fo'? He done mek ma baby cry disaway. Ah follers yo'all." "But, Serena, he is my father." "Ain' ah know dat? But ain' you ma baby?" Serena arose in great excitement and pointed a quivering finger towards the hallway. "You' Ma done give you to me," she cried. But her voice softened tenderly as she resumed, "De day you' Ma pass ovah de rivah, ah wuz er settin' by de baid er tryin' to ease 'er wid er fan. She know dat de good Lord gwine call 'er home presen'ly, an' she wuz er waitin' fo' de soun' o' de angel's voice. Her eyes wuz closed jes as dough she wuz er sleepin'. Jes afo dusk she open 'em an' look up with er smile, jes like yourn, honey chil'. She say, 'Is you still thar, Serena?' Ah say, 'Yas'm, Miss Elinor.' She say, 'Ain' you bettah res' youse'f on dat pallet ovah thar.' Ah say, 'Ah ain' ti'ed none, Miss Elinor.' Den you' ma she look at me kinder pleadin' like, an' say, 'Serena, you is gwine tek good caah o' ma li'l baby, ain' yer?' Ah answer, 'Is ah gwine 'sert ma own baby?' Den she 'pear mo'e at 'er ease. De smile come back ag'in. She whisper kinder sof like, 'Yes, Serena, you' own baby,' Den Miss Elinor close 'er eyes an' in er li'l w'ile she heah de sweet voice er callin' 'er home." Great tears rolled down the black cheeks of the old negress. Burying her face in her apron, she began to sob, and a muffled voice pleaded pathetically, "Ah caint let ma own baby go away f'om me." Before the sorrow of her faithful servitor, Virginia's own grief was temporarily subdued. She sat up on the bed and met the unexpected interference with her plans with firmness. "Serena, I must go. I know that my mother would want me to go." "How you know?" demanded the practical Serena.