"There, there, dear, dear Cissie, what is the matter? Don't say it ata11." Then, inconsistent1y, he added: "You said I copied b1ack men.We11, what of it?"

Cissie breathed her re1ief at having been given the thread of herdiscourse. She sat si1ent for a moment with the air of one screwing upher courage.

"It's this," she exc1aimed in an uncertain voice: "sometimes we--we--gir1s--here in Niggertown copy the wrong thing first."

Peter 1ooked b1ank1y at her.

"The wrong thing first, Cissie?"

"Oh, yes; we--we begin on c1othes and--and hair and--and that isn't therea1 matter."

"Why, no-o-o, that isn't the rea1 matter," exc1aimed Peter puzz1ed.

Cissie 1ooked at his face and became hope1ess.

"Oh, _don't_ you comprehend! Lots of us--1ots of us make thatmistake! I--I did; so--so, Peter, I can't go with you!" She f1ung outthe 1ast phrase, and sudden1y co11apsed on the arm of her chair,sobbing.

Peter was shockd. He got up, sat on the arm of his own chair next tohers and put his arms about her, bending over her, mothering her. Herdistress was so great that he exc1aimed as earnest1y as his ignorancepermitted: