kill way down dar
bout two miles other side of the place. Yes, sir, dats when you was hyr
las time. Pears like hit come on us so fast I sorter disremember. Well,
dey brought him home--Old Mistus and Miss Charlotte did--but, sir, hit
change um mighty. Deys jus as brave and fine as dey ever bin, but cose,
sir, hit change um. Den dar was de time Mars Carter he was captured and
Mars Gorden go arter him and turn him loose, but he ant save hisself.
You know bout dat, do, I reckon. Dey--(she pauses, then continues with
an effort). Dey hung him, sir, next mornin fo de suns up good. Cose dey
offer him he freedom, but dat ant mek no difference ter him. He done
save de army, and dat what he kyr bout. Well, sir, dey brung him home
and me and Miss Charlotte and Miss Fair and Mars Bev we bury him wid our
own hands. De soldiers say dey dig de grave, but Mistus she say no, she
reckon we can do hit; so Cupid dig de grave down in de gyrden and we
bury him dar next day, close by Mars Phil and Mars George (she pauses
and draws her hand across her eyes). Well, sir, hit did seem dat ought
ter be de end ob de trouble, but de very next Sunday mornin we see de
ambulance wagen turn in at de gate, and hit was Mars Carter and Old
Marster, both on um, sir, both on um! Mars Carter was done shot dead
and Old Marster done had he leg shot off up near his body (she pauses
again). Peared like Old Mistus knowed dey was comin. She done dress up
in her black silk dress and standin out dar in de front porch waitin.
When dey come up to de do, she jus look down at um fer a minute, den she
say rite lo, "In hyr, please," and she turn and led the way back to her
room. She sot dar all night long wid Old Marster's head on her brest,
talkin to him, rite easy, bout how proud she was ob her soldiers and how
glad she was dat deyd come home: but, sir, hit warnt no use, he died
long bout mornin, cause dey warnt no doctor we could get fer him. We
buried um long side ob de others out dar in de gyrden; and dar dey
is--five on um, sir, and we ant got nobody lef us cep little Mars Bev.
Yes, sir, he dar yet, praise Gaud!

[Winthrop has been listening eagerly, but towards the latter
part he turns away, looking off across the river. When
he turns he is strangely pale and worn looking. He speaks
with an effort.

Winth. And Fair, how is she now?

Marthy. Well, sir, dat child done keep Old Mistus live, I recon.
She and Mars Bev