rag awry, saw him and scowled. Mammy had always been Wade's mainstay and her frown made
him tremble.
"You is de wustes' boy Ah ever seed," she said. "Ain' Ah done sont you ter Miss Pitty's?
Gwan back dar!"
"Is Mother going to--will she die?"
"You is de troublesomes' chile Ah ever seed! Die? Gawdlmighty, no! Lawd, boys is a
tawment. Ah doan see why de Lawd sen's boys ter folks. Now, gwan way from here."
But Wade did not go. He retreated behind the portieres in the hall, only half convinced by her words. The remark about the troublesomeness of boys stung, for he had always tried his best to be good. Aunt Melly hurried down the stairs half an hour later, pale and tired but smiling to herself. She looked thunderstruck when she saw his woebegone face in the shadows of the
drapery. Usually Aunt Melly had all the time in the world to give him. She never said, as Mother so often did: "Don't bother me now. I'm in a hurry" or "Run away, Wade. I am busy."
But this morning she said: "Wade, you've been very naughty. Why didn't you stay at Aunt Pitty's?"
"Is Mother going to die?"
"Gracious, no, Wade! Don't be a silly child," and then, relenting: "Dr. Meade has just brought her a nice little baby, a sweet little sister for you to play with, and if you are real good you can see her tonight. Now, run out and play and don't make any noise."
Wade slipped into the quiet dining room, his small and insecure world tottering. Was there no place for a worried little seven-year-old boy on this sunshiny day when the grown-ups acted so curiously? He sat down on the window still in the alcove and nibbled a bit of the elephant's ear which grew in a box in the sun. It was so peppery that it stung his eyes to tears and he began to cry. Mother was probably dying, nobody paid him any heed and one and all, they rushed about because of a new baby--a girl baby. Wade had little interest in babies, still less in girls. The only little girl he knew intimately was Ella and, so far, she had done nothing to command his respect or liking.
After a long interval Dr. Meade and Uncle Rhett came down the stairs and stood talking
in the hall in low voices. After the door shut behind the doctor, Uncle Rhett came swiftly into the dining room and poured himself a large drink from the decanter before he saw Wade. Wade
shrank back, expecting to be told again that he was naughty and must return to Aunt Pitty's, but instead, Uncle Rhett smiled. Wade had never seen him smile like that or look so happy and, encouraged, he leaped from the sill and ran to him.
"You've got a sister," said Rhett, squeezing him. "By God, the most beautiful baby you ever saw! Now, why are you crying?"
"Mother--"
"Your mother's eating a great big dinner, chicken and rice and gravy and coffee, and we're going to make her some ice cream in a little while and you can have two plates if you want them.
And I'll show you your sister too."
Weak with relief, Wade tried to be polite about his new sister but failed. Everyone was
interested in this girl. No one cared anything about him any more, not even Aunt Melly or Uncle Rhett.
"Uncle Rhett," he began, "do people like girls better than boys?"
Rhett set down his glass and looked sharply into the small face and instant comprehension came into his eyes.
"No, I can't say they do," he answered seriously, as though giving the matter due thought.
"It's just that girls are more trouble than boys and people are apt to worry more about troublesome people than those who aren't."
"Mammy just said boys were troublesome."
"Well, Mammy was upset. She didn't mean it."
"Uncle Rhett, wouldn't you rather have had a little boy than a little girl?" questioned Wade hopefully.
"No," answered Rhett swiftly and, seeing the boy's face fall, he continued: "Now, why should I want a boy when I've already got one?"
"You have?" cried Wade, his month falling open at this information. "Where is he?"
"Right here," answered Rhett and, picking the child up, drew him to his knee. "You are boy enough for me, son."
For a moment, the security and happiness of being wanted was so great that Wade almost
cried again. His throat worked and he ducked his head against Rhett's waistcoat.
"You are my boy, aren't you?"
"Can you be--well, two men's boy?" questioned Wade, loyalty to the father he had never known struggling with love for the man who held him so understandingly.
"Yes," said Rhett firmly. "Just like you can be your mother's boy and Aunt Melly's, too."