The night was oppressively hot.Finding it impossible to sleep,Francine lay quietly in her bed,thinking.The subject of her reflections was a person who occupied the humble position of her new servant.
Mrs.Ellmother looked wretchedly ill.Mrs.Ellmother had told Emily that her object,in returning to domestic service,was to try if change would relieve her from the oppression of her own thoughts.Mrs.Ellmother believed in vulgar superstitions which declared Friday to be an unlucky day;and which recommended throwing a pinch over your left shoulder,if you happened to spill the salt.
In themselves,these were trifling recollections.But they assumed a certain importance,derived from the associations which they called forth.
They reminded Francine,by some mental process which she was at a loss to trace,of Sappho the slave,and of her life at St.
Domingo.
She struck a light,and unlocked her writing desk.From one of the drawers she took out an old household account-book.
The first page contained some entries,relating to domestic expenses,in her own handwriting.They recalled one of her efforts to occupy her idle time,by relieving her mother of the cares of housekeeping.For a day or two,she had persevered--and then she had ceased to feel any interest in her new employment.
The remainder of the book was completely filled up,in a beautifully clear handwriting,beginning on the second page.Atitle had been found for the manu by Francine.She had written at the top of the page:Sappho's Nonsense.
After reading the first few sentences she rapidly turned over the leaves,and stopped at a blank space near the end of the book.
Here again she had added a title.This time it implied a compliment to the writer:the page was headed:Sappho's Sense.
She read this latter part of the manu with the closest attention.
"I entreat my kind and dear young mistress not to suppose that Ibelieve in witchcraft--after such an education as I have received.When I wrote down,at your biding,all that I had told you by word of mouth,I cannot imagine what delusion possessed me.You say I have a negro side to my character,which I inherit from my mother.Did you mean this,dear mistress,as a joke?I am almost afraid it is sometimes not far off from the truth.
"Let me be careful,however,to avoid leading you into a mistake.
It is really true that the man-slave I spoke of did pine and die,after the spell had been cast on him by my witch-mother's image of wax.But I ought also to have told you that circumstances favored the working of the spell:the fatal end was not brought about by supernatural means.
"The poor wretch was not in good health at the time;and our owner had occasion to employ him in the valley of the island far inland.I have been told,and can well believe,that the climate there is different from the climate on the coast--in which the unfortunate slave had been accustomed to live.The overseer wouldn't believe him when he said the valley air would be his death--and the negroes,who might otherwise have helped him,all avoided a man whom they knew to be under a spell.
"This,you see,accounts for what might appear incredible to civilized persons.If you will do me a favor,you will burn this little book,as soon as you have read what I have written here.
If my request is not granted,I can only implore you to let no eyes but your own see these pages.My life might be in danger if the blacks knew what I have now told you,in the interests of truth."Francine closed the book,and locked it up again in her desk.
"Now I know,"she said to herself,"what reminded me of St.Domingo."
When Francine rang her bell the next morning,so long a time elapsed without producing an answer that she began to think of sending one of the house-servants to make inquiries.Before she could decide,Mrs.Ellmother presented herself,and offered her apologies.
"It's the first time I have overslept myself,miss,since I was a girl.Please to excuse me,it shan't happen again.""Do you find that the air here makes you drowsy?"Francine asked.
Mrs.Ellmother shook her head."I didn't get to sleep,"she said,"till morning,and so I was too heavy to be up in time.But air has got nothing to do with it.Gentlefolks may have their whims and fancies.All air is the same to people like me.""You enjoy good health,Mrs.Ellmother?"
"Why not,miss?I have never had a doctor."
"Oh!That's your opinion of doctors,is it?"
"I won't have anything to do with them--if that's what you mean by my opinion,"Mrs.Ellmother answered doggedly."How will you have your hair done?""The same as yesterday.Have you seen anything of Miss Emily?She went back to London the day after you left us.""I haven't been in London.I'm thankful to say my lodgings are let to a good tenant.""Then where have you lived,while you were waiting to come here?""I had only one place to go to,miss;I went to the village where I was born.A friend found a corner for me.Ah,dear heart,it's a pleasant place,there!""A place like this?"
"Lord help you!As little like this as chalk is to cheese.A fine big moor,miss,in Cumberland,without a tree in sight--look where you may.Something like a wind,I can tell you,when it takes to blowing there.""Have you never been in this part of the country?""Not I!When I left the North,my new mistress took me to Canada.
Talk about air!If there was anything in it,the people in thatair ought to live to be a hundred.I liked Canada.""And who was your next mistress?"
Thus far,Mrs.Ellmother had been ready enough to talk.Had she failed to hear what Francine had just said to her?or had she some reason for feeling reluctant to answer?In any case,a spirit of taciturnity took sudden possession of her--she was silent.
Francine (as usual)persisted."Was your next place in service with Miss Emily's aunt?""Yes."