02 Morning at Jalna Read Free Page A

neighbour.
    “I hear,” said Busby, “that you have visitors.”
    “Yes,” said Augusta. “They have come for a visit because we are peaceful here.”
    “Do come and meet them, Uncle David,” put in Ernest, tugging at David Vaughan’s sleeve. He was not related to the Whiteoaks but the young ones always addressed him so. “They are nice, Uncle David.”
    But David Vaughan and Elihu Busby showed no inclination to meet the Southerners.
    “You will see little of us while they are in your house,” said Busby. “You know what is our opinion of slavery.”
    Nicholas’s eyes sparkled with mischief. He said:
    “I guess they’ll be staying a long while because they’ve brought three slaves with them.”
    At the word slaves the two men drew back in consternation.
    “Slaves,” repeated Busby. “ Here? At Jalna? ”
    “Yes. And there is one of them now. That fat woman hanging clothes on the line.”
    The woman, middle-aged and very black, was at some little distance from them and appeared to be unaware that she was watched.
    “Poor creature!” exclaimed Busby on a deep note. “What a fate!”
    “The slaves could leave if they wanted,” said Augusta. “But they appear to enjoy their servitude.”
    At this moment the negress let out a jolly peal of laughter, and called to someone in the basement kitchen.
    “That’s Cindy,” said little Ernest. “She can make a lovely cake — called angel food. I shall ask her to make one tomorrow.” And he darted off.
    Augusta and Nicholas also continued their walk. With them out of earshot, Elihu Busby asked: “Is that negress married?”
    “How should I know?” said Vaughan.
    “Well — if she’s not, she ought to be. It’s disgraceful to have her in the house with those children. They’re remarkably observant. They see everything. Especially that boy, Nicholas.”
    “He wouldn’t be his mother’s son if he weren’t remarkable,” said David Vaughan.
    Elihu Busby gave him a sharp look, then said, “What I cannot understand is why Mrs. Whiteoak could bear to make friends with these slave owners and invite them to visit Jalna and bring slaves with them, in a time when their country is at civil war. I’m shocked that Captain Whiteoak should countenance it.”
    “They will soon know our opinion concerning it all,” said David Vaughan. “For me, I will not enter their house while those people are under its roof.” His sensitive lips quivered in his emotion.
    The front door of the house opened and the figure of a woman appeared in the porch, on the white-painted pillars of which a lusty young Virginia creeper was already spreading its greenness. Adeline Whiteoak descended and came with a light step to where the two men stood.
    “An admirable walk,” said Busby, out of the side of his mouth. “She’s graceful as a doe.”
    Vaughan made no reply. His deep-set eyes met hers in sombre accusation. She saw but refused to recognize it. She said:
    “How glad I am you two have appeared! I was longing for this. You must come straight in and meet our guests from South Carolina. You’ll find them perfectly delightful.”
    “I refuse to meet any slave owners,” Busby said violently. “You must know that I am heart and soul with the North.”
    “I also,” said Vaughan, in a low, tense voice.
    “Ah, but you’ll change your minds completely when you meet them. They are full of charm. And their voices! So soft and sweet.”
    “I’d as soon touch a cobra as shake hands with a slave owner,” said Elihu Busby.
    “Then you won’t come in?” she asked, as though deeply surprised.
    “You know that my son Wellington is fighting on the side of the North? These people are his enemies. We may get word at any hour that he’s been killed.”
    David Vaughan asked — “Mrs. Whiteoak, have you read Uncle Tom’s Cabin ?”
    “I have and I’m disgusted with Mrs. Stowe. She took particular cases and wrote of them as though they were universal. Mrs. Sinclair has never