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Frank was not proud。 A smile； which Peter would have regarded as
condescending to a free man； who； since the war； was as good as anybody
else； a kind word； which Peter would have considered offensively
patronizing； a piece of Mis' Molly's famous potato pone from Rena's
hands； a bone to a dog； Peter called it once；were ample rewards for the
thousand and one small services Frank had rendered the two women who
lived in the house behind the cedars。
Frank went over in the morning a little ahead of the appointed time；
and waited on the back piazza until his services were required。
〃You ain't gwine ter be gone long； is you； Miss Rena？〃 he inquired；
when Rena came out dressed for the journey in her best frock； with broad
white collar and cuffs。
Rena did not know。 She had been asking herself the same question。
All sorts of vague dreams had floated through her mind during the last few
hours； as to what the future might bring forth。 But she detected the
anxious note in Frank's voice； and had no wish to give this faithful friend
of the family unnecessary pain。
〃Oh； no； Frank； I reckon not。 I'm supposed to be just going on a short
visit。 My brother has lost his wife； and wishes me to come and stay with
him awhile； and look after his little boy。〃
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〃I'm feared you'll lack it better dere； Miss Rena；〃 replied Frank
sorrowfully； dropping his mask of unconcern； 〃an' den you won't come
back； an' none er yo' frien's won't never see you no mo'。〃
〃You don't think； Frank；〃 asked Rena severely； 〃that I would leave my
mother and my home and all my friends； and NEVER come back again？〃
〃Why； no 'ndeed；〃 interposed Mis' Molly wistfully； as she hovered
around her daughter； giving her hair or her gown a touch here and there；
〃she'll be so homesick in a month that she'll be willin' to walk home。〃
〃You would n' never hafter do dat； Miss Rena；〃 returned Frank； with a
disconsolate smile。 〃Ef you ever wanter come home； an' can't git back no
other way； jes' let ME know； an' I'll take my mule an' my kyart an' fetch
you back； ef it's from de een' er de worl'。〃
〃Thank you； Frank； I believe you would；〃 said the girl kindly。
〃You're a true friend； Frank； and I'll not forget you while I'm gone。〃
The idea of her beautiful daughter riding home from the end of the
world with Frank； in a cart； behind a one…eyed mule； struck Mis' Molly as
the height of the ridiculousshe was in a state of excitement where tears
or laughter would have come with equal easeand she turned away to hide
her merriment。 Her daughter was going to live in a fine house； and marry
a rich man； and ride in her carriage。 Of course a negro would drive the
carriage； but that was different from riding with one in a cart。
When it was time to go； Mis' Molly and Rena set out on foot for the
river； which was only a short distance away。 Frank followed with the
valise。 There was no gathering of friends to see Rena off； as might have
been the case under different circumstances。 Her departure had some of
the characteristics of a secret flight； it was as important that her destination
should not be known； as it had been that her brother should conceal his
presence in the town。
Mis' Molly and Rena remained on the bank until the steamer
announced； with a raucous whistle； its readiness to depart。 Warwick was
seen for a moment on the upper deck； from which he greeted them with a
smile and a slight nod。 He had bidden his mother an affectionate
farewell the evening before。 Rena gave her hand to Frank。
〃Good…by； Frank；〃 she said； with a kind smile； 〃I hope you and
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mamma will be good friends while I'm gone。〃
The whistle blew a second warning blast； and the deck hands prepared
to draw in the gang… plank。 Rena flew into her mother's arms； and then；
breaking away； hurried on board and retired to her state…room； from which
she did not emerge during the journey。 The window…blinds were closed；
darkening the room； and the stewardess who came to ask if she should
bring her some dinner could not see her face distinctly； but perceived
enough to make her surmise that the young lady had been weeping。
〃Po' chile；〃 murmured the sympathetic colored woman； 〃I reckon
some er her folks is dead； er her sweetheart 's gone back on her； er e'se
she's had some kin' er bad luck er 'nuther。 W'ite folks has deir troubles
jes' ez well ez black folks； an' sometimes feels 'em mo'； 'cause dey ain't ez
use' ter 'em。〃
Mis' Molly went back in sadness to the lonely house behind the cedars；
henceforth to be peopled for her with only the memory of those she had
loved。 She had paid with her heart's blood another installment on the
Shylock's bond exacted by society for her own happiness of the past and
her children's prospects for the future。
The journey down the sluggish river to the seaboard in the flat…
bottomed； stern…wheel steamer lasted all day and most of the night。
During the first half…day； the boat grounded now and then upon a sand…
bank； and the half…naked negro deck… hands toiled with ropes and poles to
release it。 Several times before Rena fell asleep that night； the steamer
would tie up at a landing； and by the light of huge pine torches she
watched the boat hands send the yellow turpentine barrels down the steep
bank in a long string； or pass cord…wood on board from hand to hand。
The excited negroes； their white teeth and eyeballs glistening in the
surrounding darkness to which their faces formed no relief； the white
officers in brown linen； shouting； swearing； and gesticulating； the yellow；
flickering torchlight over all；made up a scene of which the weird interest
would have appealed to a more blase traveler than this girl upon her first
journey。
During the day； Warwick had taken his meals in the dining…room； with
the captain and the other cabin passengers。 It was learned that he was a
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South Carolina lawyer； and not a carpet…bagger。 Such credentials were
unimpeachable； and the passengers found him a very agreeable traveling
companion。 Apparently sound on the subject of negroes； Yankees； and
the righteousness of the lost cause； he yet discussed these themes in a lofty
and impersonal manner that gave his words greater weight than if he had
seemed warped by a personal grievance。 His attitude； in fact； piqued the
curiosity of one or two of the passengers。
〃Did your people lose any niggers？〃 asked one of them。
〃My father owned a hundred；〃 he replied grandly。
Their respect for his views was doubled。 It is easy to moralize about
the misfortunes of others； and to find good in the evil that they suffer；
only a true philosopher could speak thus lightly of his own losses。
When the steamer tied up at the wharf at Wilmington； in the early
morning； the young lawyer and a veiled lady passenger drove in the same
carriage to a hotel。 After they had breakfasted in a private room；
Warwick explained to his sister the plan he had formed for her future。
Henceforth she must be known as Miss Warwick； dropping the old name
with the old life。 He would place her for a year in a boarding…school at
Charleston； after which she would take her place as the mistress of his
house。 Having imparted this information； he took his sister for a drive
through the town。 There for the first time Rena saw great ships； which；
her brother told her； sailed across the mighty ocean to distant lands； whose
flags he pointed out drooping lazily at the mast… heads。 The business
portion of the town had 〃a