Chapter 11 Summary

Near Valdosta, Georgia, Morris Calhenny suffers crushing melancholy, which only his lifelong slave Beau knows how to alleviate. They were playmates, nearly brothers, until age fourteen, when social norms demanded they become master and slave. Beau still senses when Morris needs help and takes him out riding until Morris agrees he has had enough. While riding one day, they see a white woman, Hope Martin, trying to get her white mule to stand up and continue their journey. Arguing with it does no good, but having it watch Hope eat apples gets its attention. Beau tells Morris Hope is visiting her aged aunt and uncle and observes she would make someone a good wife. Beau says that only because he knows Morris is thinking the same thing.

Morris's son Wilson has completed a year and a half of medical school in Washington, D...