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.
"Nothin' for you gentlemen to concern yourselves
with," Slegart said. "Just one of the serving girls died in
childbirth."
One of the strangers reached out involuntarily, grasping
hold of his companion's arm with a tight grip. The
companion gave him a warning glance.
"This is indeed sad news. We're very sorry to hear it,"
said the stranger in a voice he was obviously keeping under
tight control. "Was she - was she kin of yours? Pardon me
for asking, but you seem upset - "
"I am that, gentlemen," Slegard said bluntly. "And no,
she warn't no kin of mine. Came to me in the dead 'o winter,
half-starved, and begging for work. Somethin' familiar
about her there was, but just as I start to think on it - " he
put his hand to his head - "I get this queer feelin'. . . . 'Cause
of that, I was of a mind to turn her away, but" - he glanced
upstairs - "you know what women are. Cook took to her
right off, fussin' over 'er and such like. I got to admit,"
Slegart added solemnly, "I'm not one fer gettin' attached to
people. But she was as pretty a critter as I've seen in all my
born days. A hard worker, too. Never complained. Quite a
favorite she was with all of us."
At this, one of the strangers lowered his head
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