But old Ajax, remembering the turbulent days of his youth, knowing from his own wild heart in those long past days the anger that burned in Callista, and must have way, wisely offered no interference. [279] "I've come home to stay," Callista pursued bitterly, "and I've brought my boy. But ye needn't be afraid of seein' us come. Sence I lived here I've learned how to work. I can earn my way, and his, too." "Callista," sobbed the mother, clinging to her daughter, still seeking to draw her forward, "you're welcome here; and, if anything, the boy is welcomer. We ain't got nobody but you. Pappy, make her welcome; tell her that we're proud to have her as long as she's willin' to stay, and--and--" she hesitated desperately--"we'd be proud to have Lance, too." She instantly saw her mistake. Callista drew herself sharply from her mother's detaining arms and sat down on the porch edge, hushing the child whom their talk had disturbed. Presently she said--and her voice sounded low, and cold, and clear, "I have quit Lance Cleaverage. You needn't name his being anywhere that I'm at." Gentry snorted, and heaved himself up in his chair as though to go into the house. "I consider that I had good cause to quit him," Callista went on; "but I'm not a-goin' to--" "I don't want to know yo' reasons!" broke in old Ajax fiercely. "I say, reason! Reason and you ort not to be named in the same day. Yo' mammy spiled you rotten--I told her so, a-many's the time--and now them that wishes [280] you well has to look on and see you hit out and smash things." The deep, rumbling old voice sank and quavered toward the end. "I wasn't going to give you any reasons," returned Callista contemptuously. "Them that I've got are betwixt me and Lance--and there they'll always be. I would rather live at home; but I can earn my keep and the chap's anywhere. Shall I go--or stay?" The old man put down a shaking hand and laid it on her shoulder--a tremendous demonstration for Ajax Gentry. "You'll stay, gal," he said in a broken tone. "You'll stay, and welcome. But I want you to know right here and now that I think Lance Cleaverage is a mighty fine man. You' my gran'child--my onliest one--I set some considerable store by ye myse'f. But there's nothing you've said or done that gives me cause to change my mind about Lance." Callista rose, still hushing her boy in her arms. "If I'm to live with you-all," she said in a tone of authority which had never been hers in the days of her petted, spoiled girlhood, "I may as well speak out plain and say that I never want to hear the name of Cleaverage if I can help it. If you don't agree to that--without any why or wherefore--I'd rather not stay." "Oh, honey--oh, honey!" protested Octavia [281] tearfully. "Gran'pappy and me will do just whatever you say. Fetch the baby in the house. God love his little soul, hit's the first time he's ever been inside of these doors--and to think he should come this-a-way!"