“They did. She keeps them in a little pasteboard box like wedding-cake, with a blue ribbon around it. She was showing it to Miss Mattie Sue yesterday. She was telling her all about it. She said all the women there showed each other their cuts and bragged about how long they were.” Valiant’s merriment rang out under the trees, but Shirley was crimson. “Well, I don’t think it’s a nice play,” she said decidedly. “That’s just the way,” murmured Rickey disconsolately, “yesterday it was Romeo and Juliet with [Pg 161]the Meredith children, and their mother had a conniption fit.” “Was that gruesome, too?” “Not so very. I only poisoned Rosebud and June and stabbed myself. I don’t call that gruesome.” “You certainly have a highly developed taste for the dramatic,” said Shirley. “I wonder what your next effort will be.” “It’s to-morrow,” Rickey informed her. “We’re going to have the duel between Valiant and Sassoon.” The smile was stricken from John Valiant’s face. A duel—the duel—between Valiant and Sassoon! He felt his blood beat quickly. Had there been such a thing in his father’s life? Was that what had blighted it? “Only not here where it really happened, but in the Meredith orchard. Greenie’s going to be—” “Ah ain’!” contradicted Greenie. “Ah ain’ gwineter be dat Valiant, nohow!” “You are, too!” insisted Rickey wrathfully. “You needn’t be so pickety and choosety—and after she kills Sassoon, we put the bloodhounds on her trail.” Greenie tittered. “Dey ain’ no dawg eroun’ heah’d tech me,” she said, “en ’sides—” “But, Rickey,” Shirley interposed, “that wasn’t [Pg 162]a murder. That was a duel between gentlemen. They don’t—” “I know it,” assented Rickey cheerfully. “But it makes it more exciting. Will you come, Miss Shirley, deed and double? I won’t charge you any admission.” “I can’t promise,” said Shirley. “I might stand the duel, but I’m afraid the hounds would be too blood-curdling. By the way,” she added, “isn’t it about time Miss Mattie Sue had her tea?” “It certainly is, Miss Shirley!” said Rickey, with penitent emphasis. “I clean forgot it, and she’ll row me up the gump-stump! Come on, Greenie,” and she started off through the bushes. But the other hung back. “Ah done tole yo’ Ah ain’ gwine be dat Valiant,” she said stubbornly. “Look here, Greenville Female Seminary Simms,” Rickey retorted, “don’t you multiply words with me just because your mammy was working there when you were born and gave you a fancy name! If you’ll promise to be him, I’ll get Miss Mattie Sue to let us make molasses candy.” [Pg 163] CHAPTER XIX UNDER THE HEMLOCKS Shirley looked at Valiant with a deepening of her dimple. “Rickey isn’t an aristocrat,” she said: “she’s what we call here poor-white, but she’s got a heart of gold. She’s an orphan, and the neighborhood in general, and Miss Mattie Sue Mabry in particular, have adopted her.”