"When she took to runnin' out at nights," my great-aunt continued, in a low voice, "yes, an' swearin' back at her pa when he gave her a bit of his mind, it nigh broke my heart ... and sometimes she'd see me cryin', and that would make her feel bad an' she'd quiet down fer a few days ... an' she'd say, 'Ma, I'm goin' to be a good girl now,' an' fer maybe two or three nights she'd help clean up the supper-things--an' then--" with a breaking voice, "an' then all at once she'd scare me by clappin' both hands to that pretty brown head o' hers, in sech a crazy way, an' sayin', 'Honest, Ma, I can't stand it any longer ... this life's too slow.... I've gotta go out where there's some life n' fun!' "It was only toward the last that she took to sneakin' out after she pretended to go to bed.. gangs of boys an' girls, mixed, would come an' whistle soft fer her, under the window ... an' strange men would sometimes hang aroun' the house ... till Josh went out an' licked a couple. "It drove Josh nigh crazy. "One evenin', after this had gone on a long time, Josh ups an' says, 'Ma, Phoebe's run complete out o' hand ... she'll hafta be broke o' this right now ... when she comes back to-night I'm going to give her the lickin' of her life.' "'Josh, you mustn't whip her. Let's both have a long talk with her. (I knowed Josh 'ud hurt her bad if he whipped her. He has a bad temper when he is het up.) Maybe goin' down on our knees with her an' prayin' might do some good.'" "'No, Ma, talkin' nor prayin' won't do no good ... the only thing left's a good whippin' to straighten her out.'" "O Aunt Rachel," I cried, all my desire of Phoebe breaking but into tenderness. I looked at the lovely face, crossed with sunlight, full of such quick intelligence, such mischievousness.... You can catch a wild animal in a trap, but to whip it would be sacrilege ... that might do for domesticated animals. "Josh never laid a hand on her, though, that night ... she never came home ... men are so awful in their pride, Johnnie ... don't you be like that when you grow to be a man...." Then Aunt Rachel said no more, as Paul came in at that moment. Nor did she resume the subject. * * * * * Next morning I packed away to visit Uncle Lan. I might as well go, even if I hated him. It would be too noticeable, not to go. He was at the train, waiting for me. He proffered me his hand. To my surprise, I took it. He seized my grip from me, put his other hand affectionately on my shoulder. "I've often wondered whether you'd ever forgive me for the way I beat you.... I've learned better since." Before I knew it my voice played me the trick of saying yes, I forgave him. "That's a good boy!" and Lan gave my hand such a squeeze that it almost made me cry out with the pain of it. * * * * * "Lan," as we walked along, "can you tell me more about Phoebe.... Aunt Rachel told me some, but--"