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s sobbing。 Suppose Mother should die？ Wade loved his mother very much； almost as much as he feared her； and the thought of her being carried away in a black hearse behind black horses with plumes on their bridles made his small chest ache so that he could hardly breathe。
When noon came and Peter was busy in the kitchen； Wade slipped out the front door and hurried home as fast as his short legs could carry him； fear speeding him。 Uncle Rhett or Aunt Melly or Mammy surely would tell him the truth。 But Uncle Rhett and Aunt Melly were not to be seen and Mammy and Dilcey sped up and down the back stairs with towels and basins of hot water and did not once notice him in the front hall。 From upstairs he could hear occasionally the curt tones of Dr。 Meade whenever a door opened。 Once he heard his mother groan and he burst into sobbing hiccoughs。 He knew she was going to die。 For comfort； he made overtures to the honey…colored cat which lay on the sunny window sill in the front hall。 But Tom； full of years and irritable at disturbances； switched his tail and spat softly。
Finally； Mammy； coming down the front stairs； her apron rumpled and spotted； her head 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。”
Wade digested this statement。 It made sense to him and he smiled and wriggled against Rhett’s arm shyly。
“You understand little boys； don’t you； Uncle Rhett？”
Rhett’s dark face fell into its old harsh lines and his lip twisted。
“Yes；” he said bitterly； “I understand little boys。”
For a moment； fear came back to Wade； fear and a sudden sense of jealousy。 Uncle Rhett was not thinking of him but of some one else。
“You haven’t got any other—” began Wade and then Rhett set him on his feet。
“I’m going to have a drink and so are you； Wade； your first drink； a toast to your new sister。”
“You haven’t got any other—” began Wade and then seeing Rhett reach for the decanter of claret； the excitement at being included in this grown…up ceremony diverted him。
“Oh； I can’t； Uncle Rhett！ I promised Aunt Melly I wouldn’t drink till I graduated from the university and she’s going to give me a watch； if I don’t。
“And I’ll give you a chain for it—this one I’m wearing now； if you want it；” said Rhett and he was smiling again。 “Aunt Melly’s quite right But she was talking about spirits； not wine。 You must learn to drink； wine like a gentleman； son； and there’s no time like the present to learn。”
Skillfully； he diluted the claret with water from the carafe until the liquid was barely pink and handed the glass to Wade。 At that moment； Mammy entered the dining room。 She had changed to her best Sunday bl