Drum (56 page)

The big ormulu-encrusted sideboard and the wide expanse of mahogany table went into the dining room. Barrels, which disclosed china and glassware nestled in the straw packing, were placed in the pantry.

The large room across the hall from the parlor Augusta designated as the ladies' sitting room and here she placed the pale green French furniture with its yellow upholstery and hung the yellow brocaded draperies. The big room behind it, which led into Hammond's bedroom, she decided

to call the gentlemen's sitting room and relegated to it all the bastard chairs and tables which seemed imrelated toil anything else. As order evolved under her fingers, she began to i) feel a proprietary interest in the big house and the too* plentiful and too ornate furniture. It had taken form under i her hands—it was hers. j

By late afternoon the place began to look like a home. | The servants were exhausted, but Augusta kept pushing < them on. Plain wooden bedsteads were set up in Regine's room and Drumson's. When it came to furnishing the latter, i Drumson surprised even himself by daring to approach* Augusta.

"That Brutus boy, he's a smart boy, Miz 'Gusta. Hell takes hoi' and do the work hisse'f 'thout nobody a-tellin' i him whut to do. We goin' to need 'nother boy 'round this i house 'sides me. Brutus' a nice-lookin' boy too—not too* black. Whyn't you keep him here with us? Kin if you asks ; Masta Hammond. Set up 'nother bed fo* him in my room."'

Augusta paused in her directions to the girls who werei making up a bed in the big back room which she had' designated as a guest room.

"Perhaps you are right, Drumson." She gave further di-l rections for the making of the bed and walked over to one' of the windows where a rosewood chair had been left, j temporarily awaiting placement. She sank down into it grate-; fully, welcoming the breeze that entered at the window,! and motioned to Dnmison to sit on the floor in front of' her. "Sit down, Drumson. Perhaps it's time you and I be-( came acquainted. We can both do with a few moments ofl rest." i

"Yes, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am." Drumson too welcomed the respite. ,

"You're the only connection I have with New Orleans.' I always liked you in the days when I used to come to|) Madame's and I like you now. You're a smart boy, Drum-ji son, and I'm glad I've got you. Between us, we'll have to I' manage this house and I think you're right. We're going toil need more than one house boy. I've been told that I should !■ manage this house as though it were my own. Very well, then, I'm going to make you our butler."

"Butler, Miz 'Gusta ma'am? Wha's that?" Drumson had never heard the word before and he didn't know whether it boded good or ill for him.

"Well, it's something new that some of the English fam-;

flies in New Orleans have. It means the head servant of the house. It's like being the overseer on a plantation. All the slaves in the house will be under you, I'll give you your orders and you'll pass them on and be responsible."

"An' they calls me 'butler.' Tha's good."

"Now about this boy Brutus. What makes you think he's a good boy to have around the house?"

"We're frens, Brutus and me. I likes him, what Uttle Tve seen him, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am."

"Very well then, I'll take your word for it and give bira a trial. I'll tell Mr. Maxwell I want Brutus for a footman. That means he'll help you, Drumson, work along with you. Then we'll have Ajax for a coachman. Mr. Maxwell will have to give us two boys for gardeners—the outside of this place needs a lot of work. Then we'll need a young boy— maybe that Jackson boy who came along with us—^to work in the kitchen. Guess that takes care of our men servants. So, if you can find another bed, you can put it up in your room for Brutus and I'll have the girls make them up. Now, let's see what we're going to need for female help. First we'll have to have a cook. Wonder if Mr. Maxwell has one over at the other house. By the way, Drumson, what is the other house like?"

"Old house, Miz 'Gusta. Kinda fallen-down lookin' 'thout paint and not so much. Lady over there by the name of Ellen with some mustee kids which look as though Masta Hammond might be they poppa. Big fat woman, name of 'Cretia Borgia seems to run the place. Man named Mem-non, he butler." Drumson was proud of his ability to use the word correctly.

"This Ellen woman—is she white?"

"No, ma'am, she quadroon . . . mebbe octoroon. She mos' white but she's a-gettin' awful fat too. Seemed mighty familiar with Masta Hammond."

Augusta sat still for a moment, not bothering to reply. She sighed deeply, then brought herself back to the problem at hand. "All the slaves but you, Brutus and Regine can sleep on the third floor. If Hammond does not have a cook, we'll have to buy one. Regine can be my maid and Miss Sophie's, too. Then, we'll need a girl for downstairs and one for upstairs. That Balsam wench that came with us is not too bad and rather pretty, too. She could do for downstairs and we could use Phronia up here for chambermaid. I feel a little more acquainted with those girls who

came with us than I would with strangers. I wonder if wei need anyone else. A girl for the kitchen? No, we'll have Jackson for vegetables and washing up. But we shall needij a laundress. You and Brutus can wait on table and thatjd reminds me, I must get new clothes for you both."

"Pretty blue ones with shiny buttons like they got in thejl hotel?" Drumson had not forgotten the resplendent boy who:; had answered the bell.

Augusta shook her head. "Nice white coats while you're serving dinner. Gray coats the rest of the time and black trousers all the time. I'll have to teach you to take care of your clothes."

"Knows how, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am, but don't think that Brutus boy ever had real clothes. Ain't got nothin' but tow linen. Teaches him myself, I will."

Augusta nodded but it was apparent she had not been listening. She sat silent a few minutes, seeming to enjoy the breeze as it rippled the curls on her forehead. At length she turned and regarded Drumson, not as she would a slave but almost as another person. She started to speak and then stopped. When she did speak, although she looked directl> at Drumson, she seemed to be speaking to herself.

"I must get clothes for Regine, too. Black dresses with white aprons." Her voice lowered and became confidential "How do you like Regine, Drumson?"

He hardly dared to answer her, remembering as he die the hidden kiss behind the packing cases. How did he like Regine? But he must be careful. Did Miss Augusta suspect' Would she tell Hammond?

"She is beautiful, Miz 'Gusta ma'am. Shore is. Most beauti ful girl I ever seen, that is, colored girl."

Augusta smiled. "That's nice because she thinks you're th( handsomest boy in the world. Told me so, she did. Sai( she wished you were her man."

"It won' do her no good wishin', ma'am. She's Mast Hammond's wench, she is. She gotta do like he says."

Augusta was indulgent. She reached down and patte< Drumson's head. "Patience, boyl White masters tire quickl;: of their wenches,"

"Don't know 'bout Masta Hammond, ma'am. That Ellei woman over to the other house look like she been Masf Hammond's wench good many years. Them mustee kid shore look like him."

Augusta's fingers reached down and pulled the lobe of hi

ear, "Didn't I tell you that you and I are friends, Drum-son? You and I'll have to work together in many things. Maybe I can help you to have Regine. Maybe you can help me in some other things. Rome wasn't built in a day," she sighed, "nor was Falconhurst settled in a day either. We'd better get to work. But remember this, Drumson. You may be Hammond Maxwell's slave but I can make or break you. Be loyal to me and I'll see to it that you have it easy—a good job here in the house, and perhaps Regine, too. But, work against me and I'll have you out chopping cotton or whatever it is that they do here. Understand?"

"Guess I do, Miz 'Gusta ma'am." Drumson was willing to give her his entire loyalty, provided it did not interfere with his loyalty to Hammond. Regine was a big prize.

"Then we'd better get to work, and you forget all about our little talk, eh? Call Brutus and tell him to find another bed and mattress like yours and set it up in your room."

They heard the noise and commotion of a horse and carriage stopping outside and Augusta dispatched Drumson to find out who it was. He was just in time to open the front door for Hammond and his daughter. Sophie, primped and curled, was somewhat more attractive than Sophie bedraggled and wet, although her finery was far too elaborate for a girl of her age, and fanciful as it was, it was soiled and worn. The white satin dress, lavishly trirmned with cheap cotton lace around the belled-out skirt, was spotted and creased, the artificial roses at the shoulder crushed and tired-looking, as was the matching wreath which she wore in her hair. The first thing Drumson looked at was her eyes; they still wandered in different directions. Otherwise, she was not unattractive. Her adolescent body was plump under the restricting bodice; her neck and forearms tanned in contrast to the milky whiteness of her upper arms. Drum-son judged her to be about twelve or thirteen years old, seeing there was already a promise of breasts under her dress.

"Miz Augusta feeling better?" Hammond whispered to Drumson. "Gotten over her mad?"

Drumson nodded and held the door open.

"Ain' it purty, poppa?" Sophie ran the length of the hall, peering into the downstairs rooms. "We goin' to live here, poppa?"

"Yes, birdie," Hammond looked around the hall, surprised at the amount of work which had already been accomplished.

What had only a few hours before been a nondescript pile of crates and bales now had the semblance of a home. It was not complete—far from it—but it had progressed' sufficiently to impress him. He looked up to see Augusta slowly descending the stairs. She had brushed her hair and wiped the traces of grime from her face. She came down, cool and unhurried, hesitating a moment on each step.

The house, which she had entered only a few hours be-fore and had rescued from complete confusion, had become her own home. Her slow progress down the winding staircase expertly conveyed her ownership. She greeted Hammond pleasantly, almost formally.

"We have made some progress, Mr. Maxwell," she said, approaching him. Kneeling down, she took Sophie's hand in hers. "And this, I presume, is Sophie. I'm going to be your. , . . What shall I be, Mr. Maxwell? Mrs. Devereaux seems far too formal. How would you like me to be your Aunt Augusta, Sophie? And now, may I kiss you?"

"If n you wants to." Sophie displayed no enthusiasm. "But you ain' my aunt. Ain' got no aunts. Got me Ellen and 'Cretia Borgia. An' if'n I don' want to live over here, I ain' goin' to. It's purty here, but ain' no one to play with over here. 'Ceptin' him." She pointed to Drumson. "He's shore a purty boy. Likes him to play with me."

"You kin have yore Juno over here. She cain't sleep here though." Hammond was evidently trying to placate her. "Drumson, you go out in the kerridge and git them hampers. Lucretia Borgia cooked supper fer you-all. We a-goin' to eat here with you. Eat my suppers here after this. Noons I eat over to the old house."

"Put the hampers in the kitchen, Drumson." Augusta led the way into the parlor and indicated chairs for Hammond and Sophie, but Sophie dashed away. They could hear her racing up the stairs.

"There are a few arrangements I'd like to make, Mr, Maxwell, about st affin g this house. I've talked some of this over with Drumson, who seems to be a smart boy."

"Ought to be, paid enough fer him. But you do as you wants to, Miz Augusta. You're in charge here. Full charge. Got plenty slaves fer you to choose frum."

"Then I'm going to make Drumson our butler.'*

"Wha's that?" Sophie had made her tour of the upstairs and popped into the room again.

Fortunately Hammond had heard the word and explained to her.

"And I'd like this Brutus boy that's been here today for Drumson's assistant."

Hammond shook his head in indecision. "He's a pretty good carpenter, ma'am. Trainin' him to sell next year. Should get round two thousand fer him, trained as he is." He stopped shaking his head. "All right, if'n you wants him, you kin have him."

"And I'd like that Jackson boy who came with us. He's a smart little fellow and I can train him for kitchen work. I hope you can provide us with a cook."

"Lucretia Borgia been a-trainin' one fer you. She called Qytie. Makes fine biscuits."

Augusta nodded her acceptance, making the mental reservation that she would soon teach the new girl how to do more than fry ham and eggs, which she had discovered to be Hammond's favorite dish.

"The girl Regine can be servant for Miss Sophie and myself. Her room"—she scrutinized Hammond carefully— "opens into your daughter's so it will be convenient. TTien we'll need two more girls. I had thought of Balsam and Phronia. They are untrained but I'll make them competent."

"That Phronia? She the one who come with us from New Orleans?"

"The same."

"She too young. Ain' mor'n fourteen. Too yoimg fer breedin'. Better get an older one. That Balsam, she 'bout sixteen so she's all right. Bed her with Dnmison, but Phronia too young to bed with Brute."

Augusta looked quickly at Sophie, who sat dumpily in her chair, listening to the conversation but quite evidently unimpressed.

"Mr. Maxwell, you seem to forget. . . ."

" 'Bout Sophie. Sophie's 'quainted with these things. Been brought up on a breedin' farm. Knows whut's a-going on s'well as I do."

"From now on we shall avoid such subjects." Augusta was firm.

Sophie roused herself from her lethargy. "Ain' you goin' to put this Drumson to Big Pearl? 'Pears to me he'd git some good suckers out'n her."

"Later." Hammond evidently regretted her participation in the conversation. "Later, Sophie."

"Then how 'bout Elvira," Sophie persisted. "She's a purty p wench—awful purty. Said you was a-savin' her for a nice buck. Let Brute have the other 'n let Drumson have Elvira."

Hammond's face turned red.

"All right, I'll send for Elvira. Supposin' you go upstairs and see your room Aunt Augusta fixed up fer you." He waited for Sophie to leave but she remained in her chair.