“Watch, Tige,” he commanded. And he and the dog stretched themselves side by side, the man to sleep, and the dog to keep guard.
Azalea felt a wave of trembling creeping over her, and she turned her eyes once more to Bet.
“Oh, Mrs. Bowen,” she whispered, “what have I done that you should treat me like this?”
But Mrs. Bowen lifted her finger in warning.
“Just keep still, Zalie,” she answered, also under her breath, “and you won’t be hurt. Sisson’s a man that hits back when he’s hit. He was all-fired mad at your being took from him and he swore he’d have you back. He seemed to have to do it to keep up his pride. So now he’s got you, and I’m to keep you, that’s all.”
“But how can you, Betty? How can you? I wouldn’t do anything mean to you.”
Betty Bowen looked at her darkly.
“Sisson is kin of mine,” she said, as if that settled the question. “There ain’t nobody else in the world for me to turn to as I know of.”
A lump came into Azalea’s throat as she looked at Betty. To think of having no friend but Sisson! Something warm began to stir in Azalea’s heart. She did not know that the name of it was pity.