do a heap ob tinkin' on all de questions you riz."

"Yes, Aun' Jinkey, I do feel better for speaking out, but I expect I
shall do a heap of thinking too. Good-by," and she strolled away
toward the brook.




CHAPTER II

SOMETHING HAPPENS


It was a moody little stream which Miss Lou was following. She did
not go far before she sat down on a rock and watched the murmuring
waters glide past, conscious meantime of a vague desire to go with
them into the unknown. She was not chafing so much at the monotony
of her life as at its restrictions, its negation of all pleasing
realities, and the persistent pressure upon her attention of a
formal round of duties and more formal and antiquated circle of
thoughts. Only as she stole away into solitudes like the one in
which she now sat dreaming could she escape from the hard
materialism of routine, and chiding for idleness usually followed.
Her aunt, with an abundance of slaves at her command, could have
enjoyed much leisure, yet she was fussily and constantly busy, and
the young girl could not help feeling that much which she was
expected to do was a mere waste of time.

The serene beauty of the evening, the songs of the mocking and other