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 she raised her head and looked into the eyes of the older woman.

"I's a 'oman grown. Ef I tek dope, dat muh own business. Ef I ebber gits muh han' on dat nigger, I goin' fix um so he own mammy ain't know um! But I ain't goin gib um 'way tuh de w'ite folks."

The hard lines about her mouth softened, and, in scarcely more than a whisper, she added:

"I gots tuh be decent 'bout somet'ing, 'less I couldn't go back an' look in Porgy face."

Maria got heavily to her feet. The other visitors were leaving, and she longed to be free of the high, brick walls. She dropped a hand on Bess's shoulder.

"Yuh do right, Sister. But ef dat yalluh nigger come tuh Catfish Row agin—leabe him fuh me—dat's all!" Then the big negress joined the departing group, and passed out through the small steel doorway that pierced the massive gate.

Bess sat for a long while without moving. The sun lifted over the high wall, and drove its white-hot tide into her lap, and upon her folded hands.

"Wut mek yuh ain't mobe intuh de shade?" a neighbor asked curiously.

Bess looked up and smiled.

"I jes' settin' hyuh finkin' 'bout muh