She met his angry glance with a smile and stood wait-
ing for his reprimand. It came, and for a time the
debate was warm between them. Toward the close
Dorothy looked at him and said with intense feeling :

"You, then, would be willing to marry a woman
who regards a negro man as your equal, and who
would not hesitate to marry him !"

This made Andy very indignant, and he tried to
explain Miss Marbury's views, but Dorothy was in
no humor to listen, and, tossing her head, laughed
in a cold, satirical way and left him.
He paced the floor for a long time, for it was
useless to retire. No sleep could come to one as
greatly perturbed as was he. Miss Marbury had in-
jured herself.
Neither the Major nor Mrs. Sims wished to dis-
cuss the matter with Miss Marbury before retiring,
but she, on the contrary, was rather anxious to do
so. Not for a moment had she realized the impres-
sion she had made upon those who had listened to



88 THE BLACK MANTLE

her. To know it would have astounded her. In her
own section of the country nothing had been thought
of sitting at table with noted negroes; on the con-
trary, many were anxious to meet them.
When Mrs. Sims went into Miss Marbury's room
after putting on her wrapper, she found her pacing
up and down. The smile that she assumed in talking
to Dorothy had sunken into stem, set lines, and so
deep that they did not at once recede.
"Dear, why don't you go to bed instead of pacing
up and down here?" said Mrs. Sims, in a motherly
way.
"Come and let me talk to you,'* responded Miss
Marbury, advancing to her hostess.
