Winth.  I haven’t heard anything about them for a long time now.  I haven’t been here since the fight last May.

Marthy.  I come hyer most every day to fotch de lunch for her.  She bin teachin’ since September.  I couldn’t git nobody to row de ferry, so I had ter get in de skiff and row dat way.  Cos I bleeged ter get hyer some way.

Winth.  How are they all now, Marthy?  I hope they are all well.  I have tried so hard to get some word of them, but no one seemed to know.  How are they?

Marthy.  Well, sir, dey ant so well as what de might be.  Pears like hits hard ter say just how dey is, de trouble done change um so.  I reckon, do, deys well, and cose, sir, dey ant give up; nor, sir, ant ney one ob um done dat.  You heard bout Mars George bein 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.