But, in spite of this gauntness,she did not look
hard-featured or raw-boned.
Were going to dress you up as a girl, and let you
go around likethat.
Her affection for Helen was genuine, but it
wasalso, she felt, strategic and useful. Eliza loved thecommotion of law, the smell
and tension of the courts.
And in the winters now she made short visits to the
South Carolinatown where Mrs.
And, with humorous sentimentality, she defendedher.
All the boarders were very fond of her: theysaid she was a fine girl.
She had all the dislikeand distrust for them of the
mountain people. It became increasingly difficult forher to find any one at all who
would work for her.
She wasthe trusted, accurate, infallible bookkeeper
of a grocery store.
He felt now the petty cruelty of village
caste.
Helen wore her dresses, hats, and silk stockings.
The girl went to the penitentiary for two years. Ripeness with her wasall: she was a
tall heavy-bodied blonde, well kept and elegant. It became increasingly difficult
forher to find any one at all who would work for her. A sturdy spinstress thumped
heavily upon a piano whichshook like a leaf.
Hes smart enough to makethe others work for him.
What do you mean by running off to your papas like that?
Helen wore her dresses, hats, and silk
stockings.
Steve was now a young man in the first twenties.
Yesm, said Eugene, meekly serving as audience.
Yes, she continued, grinning at him as if shehoped
to succeed.
With scarcely a word spoken, as if it had been
known anciently andforever, Helen stayed with Gant. She pursed her lips several
times: Its a good buy, she said. If Iwere you, Id have too much pride for
that.
Nom, said the negress sullenly, slatting
flatfootedly down thekitchen.
There is noignominy to which you will not stoop if
you think it will put anickel in your pocket. The girl raged: it was one of Elizas
basic traits todefend blindly whatever brought her money. He felt suddenly the
futility of opposing animplacable, an inexorable desire. Steve was now a young man
in the first twenties.
He coughed gently behind his white handand ate
bread fried in battered egg and butter. Her affection for Helen was genuine, but it
wasalso, she felt, strategic and useful. Were going to dress you up as a girl, and
let you go around likethat. Youdbetter be careful how you talk about
her.
Itsnot my place to go up there and work like a
nigger for a crowd ofold cheap boarders.
Thats going to be a good piece of property some
day, she said toGant.