Peter was away with Jed.  The two hung together now like burrs.  Whatever of relaxation Martin could hope for lay in Greyson; whatever of material comfort Peter could command, must come through Jed, and so they laboured, in slow, primitive fashion, and edged in a little pleasure together.  Marg, having achieved her ambition, was content and, for the first time in her life, easy to get along with.  And into this comparative Eden Lois Ann came with words that shattered the peace and calm.

In Marg’s private thought she had never doubted that her sister had often been with Burke Lawson in the Hollow.  When he disappeared, she believed Nella-Rose was with him, but she had supported and embellished her father’s story concerning them because it secured her own self-respect and covered the tracks of the degenerate pair with a shield that they in no wise deserved, but which put their defenders in a truly Christian attitude.

Marg was alone in the cabin when Lois Ann entered.  She looked up flushed and eager.

“How-de,” she said genially.  “Set and have a bite.”

“I ain’t got no time,” the old woman returned pantingly.  “Nella-Rose is down to my place.”

The warm, sunny room grew stifling to Marg.

“What a-doing?” she said, half under her breath.

“She’s got a—­lil’ baby.”

The colour faded from Marg’s face, leaving it pasty and heavy.

“Burke—­thar?”

“He ain’t been thar all winter.  I hid Nella-Rose and her shame but I dare not any longer.  I reckon she’s going off.”

“Dying?”

“May be; or—­” and here Lois Ann tapped her head.

“And he—­he went and left her?” groaned Marg—­“the devil!”

Lois Ann watched the terrible anger rising in the younger woman and of a sudden she realized how useless it would be to voice the wild tale Nella-Rose held to.  So she only nodded.

“I’ll come with you,” Marg decided at once, “and don’t you let on to father or Jed—­they’d do some killing this time, sure!”

Together the two made their way to the Hollow and found Nella-Rose in the quiet room with her baby nestling against her tender breast.  The look on her face might well stay the reproaches on Marg’s lips—­she almost reeled back as the deep, true eyes met hers.  All the smothered sisterliness came to the surface for an instant as she trembled and drew near to the two in the old chintz-covered rocker.

“See! my baby, Marg.  She is lil’ Ann.”

“Ann—­what?” whispered Marg.

“Just lil’ Ann for—­Miss Lois Ann.”

“Nella-Rose” (and now Marg fell on her knees beside her sister), “tell me where he is.  Tell me and as sure as God lives I’ll bring him back!  I’ll make him own you and—­and the baby or he’ll—­he’ll—­”

And then Nella-Rose laughed the laugh that drove Lois Ann to distraction.

“Send Marg away, Miss Lois Ann,” Nella-Rose turned to her only friend, “she makes me so—­so tired and—­I do not want any one but you.”