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fire？ The first batch of clothes is almost dry。〃
Aunt Polly； an aged crone； already stumbling into her dotage； hobbled from the kitchen and gathered up an armful of resinous pine from a pile beside the steps。 〃Dey's 'mos' es hot es de debbil's wood en iron shovel；〃 she replied； with one foot on the step； adding in a piercing whisper： 〃I know dat ar shovel； honey； 'caze de debbil he done come fur me in de daid er de night； lookin' moughty peart； too； but I tole 'im he des better bide aw'ile 'caze I 'uz leanin' sorter favo'bly to'ad de Lawd。〃
〃Aunt Polly； you ought to be ashamed of yourself。 Take those irons off and let them cool。〃
〃Dat's so； Miss Cynthy； en I'se right down 'shamed er myse'f； sho' 'nough； but de shame er hit cyarn tu'n de heart er 'ooman。
De debbil he sutnev did look young en peart； dat he diden de Lawd He knows； Miss Cynthy； I allers did like 'em young！ I 'uz done had nine un um in all； countin' de unen he wuz Cephus dat run off 'fo' de mah'age wid my bes' fedder baid made outer de gray goose fedders ole miss done throwed away 'caze dey warn' w'ite。 Yes； Lawd； dar's done been nine un um； black en yaller； en dar ain' nuver been en ole 'un in de hull lot。 Whew！ I ain' nuver stood de taste er nuttin' ole lessen he be a 'possum； en w'en hit comes ter en ole man； I d'clar hit des tuns my stomick clean inside out。〃
〃But； Aunt Polly； you're old yourself…it's disgraceful。〃
Aunt Polly chuckled with flattered vanity。
〃I know I is； honeyI know I is； but I'se gwine ter hev a young husban' at de een ef hit tecks de ve'y las' cent I'se got。 De las' un he come monst'ous high； en mo'n dat； he wuz sech en outlandish nigger dat he'd a…come high ef I'd got 'im as a Christmas gif'。 I had ter gin 'im dat burey wid de bevel glass I bought wid all my savin's； en des es soon es I steps outside de do' he up en toted hit all de way ter de cabin er dat lowlifeted； savigorous； yaller hussy Delphy。 Men sutney are tuh'ble slippery folks； Miss Cynthy； en y'all des better look out how you monkey
wid 'em； 'caze I'se done hed nine； en I knows 'em thoo en thoo。 De mo' you git； de likelier 'tis you gwine git one dat's worth gittin'； dat's vat I 'low。〃
Cynthia gathered up the scattered garments； which had been left carelessly from the day before； and carried them into the kitchen； where a pine ironing board was supported by two empty barrels。 Lila was busily preparing a bowl of gruel for one of the sick old Negroes who still lived upon the meager charity of the Blakes。
〃Mother wants you； Cynthia；〃 she said。 〃I won't do at all； for she can't be persuaded that I'm really grown up； you know。 Here； give me some of those clothes。 It won't hurt my hands a bit。〃
Cynthia piled the clothes upon the board； and moistening her finger； applied it to the bottom of the iron。 Then she handed it to Lila with a funny little air of anxiety。 〃This is just right；〃 she said； 〃be careful not to get your fingers burned； and remember to sprinkle the clothes well。 Do you know what mother wants？〃
〃I think it's about taking something to Aunt Dinah。 Docia told her she was sick。〃
〃Then I wish Docia would learn to hold her tongue；〃 commented Cynthia； as she left the kitchen。
She found Mrs。 Blake looking slightly irritated as she wound a ball of white yarn from a skein that Docia was holding between her outstretched hands。
〃I hear Dinah is laid up with a stitch in her chest； Cynthia；〃 she said。 〃You must look in the medicine closet and give her ten grains of quinine and a drink of whisky。 Tell her to keep well covered up； and see that Polly makes her hot flaxseed tea every two hours。〃
〃Lila is fixing her some gruel now； mother。〃
〃I said flaxseed tea； my dear。 I am almost seventy years old； and I have treated three hundred servants and seen sixty laid in their graves； but if you think you are a better doctor than I am； of course there's nothing to be said。 Docia； hold the yarn a little tighter。〃
〃We'll make the flaxseed tea at once； and I'll carry it right overa breath of air will do me good。〃
Mrs。 Blake sighed。 〃You mustn't stay too closely with me；〃 she said； 〃you will grow old before your time； I fear。 As it is you have given up your young life to my poor old one。〃
〃I had nothing to give up； mother；〃 replied Cynthia quietly； and in the few words her heart's tragedy was writtensince of all lives； the saddest is the one that can find nothing worthy of renouncement。 There were hours when she felt that any bitter personal pastthat the recollection of a single despairing kiss or a blighted love would have filled her days with happiness。 What she craved was the conscious dignity of a broken heartsome lofty memory that she might rest upon in her hours of weakness。
〃Well； you might have had； my child；〃 returned her mother。
Cynthia's only answer was to smooth gently the pillows in the old lady's chair。 〃If you could learn to lean back； dearest； it would rest you so；〃 she said。
〃I have never slouched in my life；〃 replied Mrs。 Blake decisively； 〃and I do not care to fall into the habit in my seventieth year。 When my last hour comes； I hope at least to meet my God in the attitude becoming a lady； and in my day it would have been considered the height of impropriety to loll in a chair or even to rock in the presence of gentlemen。 Your Greataunt Susannah； one of the most modest women of her time； has often told me that once； having unfortunately crossed her knees in the parlour after supper； she suffered untold tortures from 〃budges〃 for three mortal hours rather than be seen to do anything so indelicate as to uncross them。 Well； well； ladies were ladies in those days； and now Lila tells me it is quite customary for them to sit like men。 My blindness has spared me many painful sights； I haven't a doubt。〃
〃Things have changed； dear。 I wish they hadn't。 I liked the old days； too。〃
〃I'm glad at least to hear you say so。 Your Aunt Susannahand she was the one who danced a minuet with General Lafayette； you knowused to say that patience and humility became a gentlewoman better than satin and fine lace。 She was a lady of fashion and a great beauty； so I suppose her opinion counts for something especially as she was noted for being the proudest woman of her day； and it was said that she never danced with a gentleman who hadn't fought a duel on her account。 When she went to a ball it took six small darkies to carry her train； and her escort was always obliged to ride on top of the coach to keep from rumpling the flounces of her petticoat。 They always said that I had inherited something of her face and step。〃
〃I'm sure she was never so beautiful as you； mother。〃
〃Ah； well； every one to his taste； my child； and I have heard that she wore a larger shoe。 However； this is foolish chatter； and a waste of time。 Go and carry Dinah the medicine； and let me see Christopher as soon as he comes in。 By the way； Cynthia； have you noticed whether he seeks the society of ladies？ Do you think it likely that his affections are engaged？〃
〃No； no； not at all。 He doesn't care for girls； I'm sure of it。〃
〃That seems very strange。 Why； at his age； his father had been the object of a dozen love affairs； and been jilted twice； report went； t