Yes, answered Archie briefly, as he flapped the
reins. Even Uncle Peter refuses to go out with me!
Even the Thespians who gave amateurplays once a
month clamored for her.
Somewhere insome hastily dug trench in the enemys
country.
Theyall like to remember the war, to talk about
it.
Before the war, he would not have been permitted
even inthe ladies kitchens.
He hated negroes and they knew it andfeared
him.
And these children will never talk of anything else
either.
But the idea of me pulling weeds at my time of life
andwith my lumbago! But Ashley was faring little better with his mill
thanHugh.
The mouth beneath the beard seemed to move, as if
he were smilinggrimly at her fear. Archie was a silent man, never speaking unless
spoken to andusually answering with grunts.
Awomans got no bizness botherin her men folks when
theyre tryinto take keer of her.
There was contempt in his one eye, not apersonal
contempt for her, but for her whole sex.
And I see now I cant afford to be away from them
evenone day. I hates Yankees too, moren Ihates niggers. What do I care if Gallegher
was in the Yankee Army?
She didnt like thelooks of this elderly desperado
but his presence would simplifymatters. In the nights of the late summer her small,
feebly lighted housewas always full of guests. Fontaine had said anotherchild would
cost her her life.
But the idea of me pulling weeds at my time of life
andwith my lumbago!
There was contempt in his one eye, not apersonal
contempt for her, but for her whole sex.
Secretly,she still thought about it and with some
longing.
That afternoon a strange figure stumped through
Melanies hedge andacross Pittys back yard.