Eugenia rose and put a roasted apple in her pocket.
"I ain't goin' to catch anything that Bernard doesn't catch," she said. "When he goes I'm goin' too."
And she went out, followed by Rindy and the boys.
The first breath of the chill atmosphere brought a glow to Nicholas's cheek, and he started at a brisk run across the fields. He had gone but a few yards when he was checked by Eugenia's voice.
"Nick!" she called.
Her small, dark shadow was falling on the ground beside him, and by the light of the pale moon he could see the fog of her breath.
As he went towards her she held out her hand.
"Here's an apple I saved for you," she panted. "And—and I don't mind about your being poor white trash!"
He took the apple, but before the reply left his lips she had darted from him and was speeding homeward across the glimmering whiteness of the frost.