It was when she had just passed through one of these states that Lila came out on a Sunday afternoon to find Christopher at the woodpile, and told him, with a burst of tears, that she thought the end had come.
"She's quite herself and wants us all," she said, sobbing."And she's even asked for the house servants, every one--for Phyllis, and Tobias, and so many of them who have been away for years.
It's just as if she knew that she was dying and wanted to say good-by."Throwing the axe hurriedly aside, Christopher followed her into the house, and then entering the old lady's room, stopped short beside the threshold in a grief that was not unmixed with wonder.
The sunshine fell straight through the window on the high white pillows, and among them Mrs.Blake was sitting rigidly, her blind eyes sparkling with the last fitful return of her intelligence.
She was speaking, as he entered, in a natural and lively tone, which brought back to him his earliest memories of her engaging brightness.
"Are the servants all there, Cynthia? Then let them come and stand inside the door--a few at a time.""They are here, mother," replied Cynthia, choking; and Christopher, glancing round, saw several decrepit Negroes leaning against the wall--Uncle Boaz, Docia (pressing her weak heart), and blear-eyed Aunt Polly, already in her dotage.
"I wish to tell you good-by while my mind is clear," pursued the old lady in her high, sweet voice."You have been good servants to me for a long time, and I hope you will live many years to serve my children as faithfully.Always remember, Christopher--is Christopher there?""I am here, dear mother."
"Always remember that a man's first duty is to his wife and children, and his second to his slaves.The Lord has placed them in your hands, and you must answer to Him how you fulfill the trust.And now, Boaz--where is Boaz?""I'm yer, ole miss; I'm right yer."
"You may shake my hand, Boaz, for it is a long good-by.I've always promised you your freedom, and I haven't forgotten it, though you asked for it almost fifty years ago.You did something that I praised you for--I can't quite remember what it was--and when I asked you what you would like as a reward, you answered:
'Don't give me nothin' now, ole miss, but let the gift grow and set me free when you come to die.' It is a long time, Boaz, fifty years, but I give you your freedom now, as I promised, though it is very foolish of you to want it, and I'm sure you'll find it nothing but a burden and a trouble.Christopher, will you remember that Boaz is free?"Christopher crossed the room, and, catching her hands in his own, sought to force her back upon the pillows, but with an effort that showed in every tense line of her face she pushed him from her and sat erect and unsupported.
"Let me dismiss them first," she said with her stately manner.
"Good-by, Phyllis and Polly--and--and--all the rest of you.You may go now.I am a little tired, and I will lie down."Cynthia put the weeping servants from the room, and, filling a glass with brandy, held it with a shaking hand to her mother's lips.
"Take this, dear, and lie down," she said.
Mrs.Blake sipped the brandy obediently, but as she felt her strength revive from the strong spirit the animation reawoke in her face, and, turning toward Christopher, she stretched out her hand with an appealing gesture.
"There is so much to say and I haven't the space to say it in, my son.There is so much advice I want to give you, but the time is short.""I understand, mother; I understand.Don't let it trouble you.""I have had a fortunate life, my child," resumed the old lady, waving him to silence with a gesture in which there was still a feeble sprightliness, "and when one has lived happily far into the seventies one learns a great deal of wisdom, and there is much good advice that one ought to leave behind.You have been an affectionate son to me, Christopher, and I have not yet given up the hope that you may live to be a worthy husband to another woman.If you do marry--and God grant that you may--remember that the chief consideration should be family connection, and the next personal attractiveness.Wealth counts for very little beside good birth, and after this I regard a small foot and hand as most essential.They have always been a mark of our breeding, Christopher, and I should not like the family to lose through you one of its most distinguished characteristics.""It is not likely I shall marry, mother.I was cut out for different ends.""One never knows, my son, and at least I am only doing my duty in speaking to you thus.I am a very old woman, and I am not afraid to die, for I have never to my knowledge done anything that was unbecoming in a lady.Remember to be a gentleman, and you will find that that embraces all morality and a good deal of religion."He kissed her hand, watching anxiously the mounting excitement in her face.
"And if you do marry, Christopher," she went on, harping fitfully on her favourite string, "remember that keeping in love is as much the profession for a man as it is the art for a woman, and that love feeds on little delicacies rather than on meat and drink.Don't forget the little things, dear, and the big ones will take care of themselves.I have seen much of men and manners in my life, and they have taught me that it is the small failings, not the big faults, which are deadliest to love.Why, I've seen a romantic passion survive shame, and treachery, and even blows, and another wither out of existence before the first touch of bad breeding.'A man's table manners are a part of his morality,' your Great-grandfather Bolivar used to say."She laughed softly while her hand played with the white fringe on the counterpane.
