“What’s he doing in a British uniform?”
The boy shifted his great shoulders uneasily and looked aside.
“I don’t know, suh—I don’t know nuttin’.”
Erskine knew he was lying, but respected his loyalty.
“Go tell Miss Barbara I’m here and then feed my horse.”
“Yassuh.”
Ephraim went swiftly and Erskine followed along the hedge and through the rose-bushes to the kitchen door, where Barbara’s faithful old Mammy was waiting for him with a smile of welcome but with deep trouble in her eyes.
“I done tol’ Miss Barbary, suh. She’s waitin’ fer yuh in de hall.”
Barbara, standing in the hall doorway, heard his step.
“Erskine!” she cried softly, and she came to meet him, with both hands outstretched, and raised her lovely face to be kissed. “What are you doing here?”