about his standards was wrong; consequently he made opportunities to talk with Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell when she was about, hoping she would bring up the subject of Zora of her own accord. But she did not. She was too full of her own cares and troubles, and she was only too glad of willing and sympathetic ears into which to pour her thoughts. Miss Smith soon began to look on these conversations with some uneasiness. Black men and white women cannot talk together casually in the South and she did not know how far the North had put notions in Alwyn‚Äôs head.
Today both met each other almost eagerly.
Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell had just had a bit of news which only he would fully appreciate.
“Have you heard of the Vanderpools?” she asked.
‚ÄúNo‚ÅÝ‚Äîexcept that he was appointed and confirmed at last.‚Äù
‚ÄúWell, they had only arrived in France when he died of apoplexy. I do not know,‚Äù added Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell, ‚ÄúI may be wrong and‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI hope I‚Äôm not glad.‚Äù Then there leapt to her mind a hypothetical question which had to