CHAPTER X
FREE AND THRALL
"Sally, come here," called Dunwody to one of the row of grinningnegro servants who were loosely lined up in the hall, as much incuriosity as deference, to give their master his only welcome home."Take this lady up to the room in the east part. See that she haseverything she wants. She is not to be disturbed there untilmorning, do you hear, Sally? When you come down I want to see youagain. You others there, make your duty to this lady. Call herMiss Josephine. When she wants anything, you jump and get it. Goon, now."
They scattered grinning, all but the bent and grizzled old womanSally, who now came forward. She looked with blank brown eyes atthe new-comer, herself inscrutable as the Sphinx. If she commentedmentally on the droop of the young woman's mouth and eyes, at leastshe said nothing. It was not her place to ask what white folk did,or why. She took up the traveling-bags and led the way up thenarrow stairway which made out of the central hall.
"Sally," said Josephine, turning, when they reached the stairway,"where's my own maid--the other--Jeanne?"
"I dunno, Ma'am," said Sally. "I reckon she's all right, though.Dis heah's yuah room, Ma'am, if you please." She shuffled ahead,into a tall and wide room, which overlooked the lawn and theapproaching road.
Once alone, Josephine flung herself face downward upon the bed andburst into a storm of tears, her fine courage for once outworn.She wept until utterly spent. Sally, after leaving the room, hadreturned unnoticed, and when at last Josephine turned about she sawthe old woman standing there. A hard hand gently edged under herheaving shoulder. "Thah now, honey, doan' cry! God A'mighty,girl, doan' cry dat-a-way. What is wrong, tell me." Sympathy evenof this sort was balm to a woman wholly unnerved. Josephine foundher head on the old negro woman's shoulder.
Her fine courage for once outworn.]
"Now you jus' lay right quiet, Ma'am," went on Sally. "I'se gwineto git you a little something warm to drink and something to eatright soon, and den I'se gwine put you-all to bed nice and clean,and in de mawnin' you'll feel like you was anotheh lady, yousuttinly will, Ma'am."
"Who are you?" demanded Josephine, turning to look into the old andwrinkled face.
"I'se jus' Sally."
"I suppose you are keeper of the prison," commented Josephinebitterly.
"Dis ain't no prisum, Ma'am, I'se bin heah a long time 'mong desetriflin' niggahs. Dis ain't no prisum--but God knows, Ma'am, weneeds a lady heah to run things. Is you come foh dat?"
"No, no," said Josephine. "I'm just--I'm just--I'm going away assoon as I can."
"Sho, now! Huc'cum you heah, Ma'am?"
"It was a mistake."
"I didn't know white folks evah done nothin' they didn't want todo," commented Sally. "But doan' you mind. Ef you wants me, jes'call for Sally."
"Tell me, Sally, isn't there any Mrs. Dunwody here?" demandedJosephine suddenly.
The face of the old woman remained inscrutable, and Josephine couldsee no sign except that a sort of film crossed her eyes, as thoughveiling some inmost thought.
"Ef dey was, I doan' reckon you-all would have come heah, wouldyou? Now you lay down and git comf'table. Doan' you worry none,Ma'am. You gwine be fine, by mawnin'. You suttinly is a righthandsome lady, Ma'am!"
The old woman shuffled from the room, to join her master at thefoot of the stairs.
"Where is she, Sally?" demanded Dunwody, "and how is she?"
"She's right tired, suh," said Sally non-committally. And then,"Mighty fine lookin' lady, suh. An' she is a lady! Huc'cum herhere, Marse Warv'l? Whut you-all--"
"What did she say to you?"
"Nothin' 'cept she's gwine git away right soon. White folkes'business ain't none o' my business."
"Well, never you mind about all that, Sally. Now listen. It'syour business to keep her there, in that room. When she wantsanything, get it. But don't you talk to her, you understand. Ireckon you do understand, don't you?"
"I reckon I does, suh."
"Well, all right then. If she goes to walk, keep her in sight.She doesn't send out letters to any one, and doesn't talk tostrangers, do you understand?"
"I reckon I does, suh."
Old Sally stood looking at him for a time with her small brown eyeshalf-covered under her gray brows. At last, with something of theliberty of the old servant she said, "Marster, is you married tothat dere lady? Ef you isn't, is you gwine marry her?"
"If I told you you'd know too much, Sally. It's enough for you toknow that you're responsible for her. If she turns up missing anytime, you'll be missing yourself not long after."
"I reckon I will," said Sally chuckling; and then shuffled offabout her own duties.
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