Dorothy went to her room, leaving me in the hands of her mother.  Mrs. Clayton, thinking that we had had a lovers’ quarrel, endeavored by extra attention to me to overcome Dorothy’s absence, and to say to me in this way that she did not share in Dorothy’s attitude.

And so it was that Mrs. Clayton and I dined together; and I now had opportunity to tell her of little Amos, of my life in England, of my farm, my new house, my plans for the future.  Mrs. Clayton was outspoken enough.  She said that Reverdy admired my father for many things, and did not particularly censure his marriage.  As for that it was a common enough thing in the South for the planters to have children by negro women, or by the prettier quadroons and octoroons.  For herself she hated slavery, but did not know what would be done if the negroes were free.

Dorothy did not appear.  We rose from the table and went out to sit under one of the great trees in the yard.  I thought I saw an opportunity.  Why not talk to Mrs. Clayton?  She could tell Dorothy what I was unable to say to her.  I set my will to the task.

“You seem to know about my father, Mrs. Clayton.  And I want you to know about me.  I want Dorothy for my wife.  We had a kind of a flare-up this afternoon.  I was trying to make my case clear, and Dorothy fell to crying.  That’s all.  You see I came to America in ignorance of everything.  No one had told me about my father’s marriage; and I blame my grandmother that she did not tell me.  Well, I got to Jacksonville and was terribly ill, almost died.  Zoe took care of me.  And that won me.  But in addition to that she is as much my father’s child as I am.  I found that out as soon as I got up.  Then I took her to live with me, to help me with the house, without thinking that there would be talk, not only by those who didn’t know that she was my sister as well as by those who did know it.  I went to St. Louis to buy furnishings for my new house.  While I was gone a man named Lamborn wronged her.  This made great trouble for me.  And one thing led to another.  He was saying vile things about me and about Zoe.  And my life was getting more and more unendurable day by day on account of this fellow.  And at last I was coming down the street with Reverdy one day, and this Lamborn suddenly confronted me.  I drew and killed him.  The state’s attorney, Mr. Douglas, brought out all the facts before the coroner’s jury.  The jury acquitted me before leaving their seats.  Mr. Douglas told the jury that he would not prosecute me if an indictment was found against me.  And so...”  I was about to say that I had come to Nashville to get away from the circumstances.  But I caught myself and forebore.

Mrs. Clayton had followed me with rapt attention, leaning more and more toward me as my story progressed.  She put out her hand to take mine.  I could not tell whether it was the hand of pity or admiration.  Her eyes were kindly, but they searched me.  She seemed to say:  “What difficulty in this boy’s life is he trying to mingle with my daughter’s life?” She spoke.  “It is too bad.  You are too young to have such tragedy.”  That was all.  Then we went in.