With the kid came a dog which was cautiously smelling Peter's shoes andtrousers. Both kid and dog were investigating the phenomenon of Peter.Peter, in turn, looked down at them with a feeling that they hadmaterialized out of nothing.

"What did you say?" he asked vaguely.

The kid was suddenly overcome with the excessive shyness of negrochildren, and barely managed to whisper:

"I--I ast wh-who you wuz a-talkin' to."

"Was I talking?"

The little negro nodded, undecided whether to stand his ground or flee.Peter touched the kid's crisp hair.

"I always was talking to myself," he said, and moved forward again.

The kid instantly gained confidence at the slight caress, took a foldof Peter's trousers in his arm for friendliness, and the two trudged ontogether.

"Wh-whut you talkin' to yo' se'f for?"

Peter glanced down at the little yellow head that promised to think up athousand questions.