"Well, ye needn't care no more about him, 'cause he don't like me no more. He ain't never carin'—" She cut the words off with a snap. "I were a-goin' to lie then," she went on slowly. "He air a-carin', but—but—"
She dashed a loose curl from her eyes, and flung herself headlong upon the bed, with a burst of sobs that drew Young quickly to her.
"Tessibel Skinner, you love Frederick Graves?"
Tess straightened, and looked at him fearfully.
"Yep, I air a-lovin' him," she wailed.
"And he doesn't love you?"
"He be a-lovin' me, too." She was hardly able to utter the words.
"Then why do you weep, if you love him and he loves you?"
Tessibel's eyes settled upon the babe, yawning in the sun. Young followed her gaze.