Drum (58 page)

Augusta laughed. "Naughty at times, I agree, but I hardly believe she's bad. Now, supposing you tell me exactly whal this awful thing is that frightens you all so. You've nevei lied to me before and I shall believe you,"

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta. I honest. But what I got to say's a hard thing. Miz Sophie's Masta Hammond's chile. He'll believe her afore he will me,"

"But you are not talking to Master Hamcmond now. Yoi are talking to me. Master Hammond has told me that I ani the head of this house. You are doing right to report anys thing to me first. I'll judge the matter and if I deem r necessary, I'll pass it on to him. Now, Drumson, what is al

tms

dram 423

is about Miss Sophie? Go right ahead and tell me. Just tell the truth and don't be frightened."

"Hard for me to tell a lady, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am, but got to tell you. Ain't fittin' to talk about to a lady neither."

Augusta looked at the four pairs of eyes facing her. In her intuitive woman's way, she had an idea of what might be forthcoming.

"Go ahead, Drumson, and take your time. I'll listen. Just be sure you are telling me the truth."

There were no further preliminaries. He knew he must blurt it out now, regardless of the circumstances.

"Yesterday," he began, "I was in the pantry, unpacking them barrels o' dishes. I was a-taking the plates and sich out-a the barrels and the straw and a-carryin' them into the kitchen fer Elvira to wash 'em. Then I carries the clean ones back to the pantry. Didn't want that Jackson boy a-washing them—^feared he break 'em. Clytie, she a-setting at the table and Clees, he a-setting there too, drinkin' a cup of coffee and a-eatin' a piece of that there poun' cake you learned Qytie to make. Miss Sophie, she a-settin' on Qees' Ij^, kinda lovin' him up like as how she shouldn't and he a-lettin' her. Had his arms 'round her, feedin' her pieces o' cake and a-lettin' her drink outa his cup. Clytie she awful mad but she not jpeakin' a word."

"What's Clees doing in our kitchen?" Augusta demanded.

"He's Clytie's man, Miz 'Gusta ma'am. He there a lot She d'ays a-feedin' him."

"Well that's going to stop." Augusta was firm. "We're certainly not going to have that behemoth cluttering up the citchen and keeping Clytie from her work."

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta, he shore is what yo' calls him." Drumson had no idea of what the word meant but he was ture it was not complimentary. "So purty soon, Miz Sophie, ;he slide down outa Clees' lap and she come in the pantry vith me. Jes' then I a-standin' up on the li'l ladder, a-puttin' ome of the clean dishes up'n the top shelf.

" 'You shore a purty boy, Drumson,' she a-saying to me. Whyn't you never play with me?'

"I laughed, Miz 'Gusta ma'am, sayin' to her I too big to >lay with her. She better play with Jackson or that Juno vench what come over to play with her.

"She say she don' want to play with Jackson—he too li'l ind she sick of playin' with wenches. Say she like mo' playin' wth me. Say she know nice game to play with me."

"And then, Drumson?" Augusta bit her lip but her voi< remained calm.

"And then, ma'am. . . ." He hesitated, unable to speal "Jes' cain't tell you no mo', ma'am. Ain' a-fittin' fo' me." H himg his head.

Elvira stepped forward.

"No, it ain' a-fittin' fo' Drumson to say, Miz 'Gusta ma'am. But if n you wants to know, I'll tell you, ma'am. Shi a-doin' the same thing with Drumson, that I ketched h€ a-doin' wid Ajax out'n the stable. She done it with Merc and with Jupe and she all-a time a-doin' it wid Clees. She a-goiii 'round all-a time unbuttonin' the boys' pants she is anc a-playin' wid 'em. That's what she-a-doin', Miz 'Gustai ma'am. Ain't only de boys here at the house but she a-goinj out'n de fiel's. She a-doin' it to all de boys what's here.'

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am." Brutus found courage to confirm Elvira's words. "Ain' a boy on de place but wha wants to run when he see Miz Sophie a-comin'. She mo' bold than de nigger wenches. Boys don' min' de wenches a-lovin 'em up onct in a while but they's mighty scairt of white gal She plague 'em all. They's fear'd not to let her and fear'i to let her. She say if'n they don' she run tell Masta Ham mond they a-goin' to rape her so's they gotten to let her Ev'y one fear'd Masta Hammond goin* fin' him and h& some day."

Augusta's hps set in a firm line. Balsam started to speal but Augusta waved her to silence. For a long moment sh( sat there, looking from one to the other.

"Is this true, Drumson?" She looked straight at him. "Tel me, is that what Miss Sophie did to you?"

" Tis true, Miz 'Gusta. Don' know what Miz Sophie don' to them others. Didn' see nothin' with Ajax nor Merc no Jupe. Brutus, he been here long time and he know. I onl; seen her with Clees in the kitchen."

"You should have told me then."

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta. Should of, but a servant don' gf a-telling things he sees white folks do. Ain' up to him t» carry tales 'bout white folks."

"In this case it was. But I think I understand. And you Brutus, this ever happen to you?"

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta. Onct 'fore I come over here Buildin' a chicken coop, I was, and Miz Sophie she don come down a-sayin' she a-goin' to he'p me. She start kinda pushin' me, kinda playin', then a-pettin' then she stai

a-foolin' roun'. Then she get mad. She say I no good. Say I no bigger'n dat Ol' Man Wilson and he no older'n she is. Say I too small to bother with. Shore glad fer onct I so small."

Augusta's hand silenced him. She turned to Elvira.

"And you say you saw this happen with Ajax?"

"Yas ma'am, Miz 'Gusta, in de coach house."

Augusta stood up.

"We'll say no more about this matter. I am sure all of you are telling the truth but you must not blame Miss Sophie. She did not realize that she was doing wrong. I do not want the matter ever mentioned again, not among yourselves or among the other servants. Drumson, you go out and get Ajax and bring him in here. Then, when I dismiss him, I want you to bring the two yard boys in. Hurry, because I want to talk with all of them before Mr. Maxwell and Miss Sophie return from Benson." She was about to dismiss them when she remembered something. "Drumson, before you call Ajax, tell Clytie I want to see her. Now, go, all of you. Go about your work as though nothing had happened. It will not happen again and I can assure you, you need have nothing to fear for I shall not mention your names in any discussion I have with Mr. Maxwell."

They filed out, through the parlor and the dining room, into the pantry and the kitchen, Clytie was chopping something in a huge wooden bowl. Drumson informed her that Augusta wanted her.

"Who she thmk she is, a-orderin' me 'roun', a-tellin' me whut to do." She delivered a few more vicious blows to the bowl with the chopping knife. "Don' she know I'se busy a-gittin' Masta Hammond's supper?"

"Better go, Clytie," Drumson was emphatic, and, still spluttering, she flounced out.

They waited, huddled together in the kitchen, until Clytie returned. It was plain to see she had been crying. She was quite aware that the others knew why she had been summoned, but anger and resentment had been drained out of her by fear,

"You folkses a-wantin' a cup-a coffee?" she asked meekly. **Got it all het up here fer Clees but he ain' a-comin' here no mo*. Miz 'Gusta say he gotta keep 'way, So's we might's well drink it while it hot,"

She poured it out into the cups without waiting for an answer and put the stoneware jug of molasses on the table.

Meanwhile Drumson had summoned Ajax from the coach; house. Again they waited, this time five instead of four, 3 bound together by their common fear. When Ajax returned,! his face drawn, biting his broad lips, Clytie drew out another* of the kitchen chairs and poured him a cup of coffee.

"Guess we all gotta stick together now," she said. "Hopes 1 they don' do nothin' to Clees."

And so they waited, sitting in silence while Merc was] called in and after him Jupe. Even young Jackson had hisi turn on the carpet. The only one of the servants who was not questioned was Regine.

Soon after Jackson reappeared, taking his place along withi the rest at the kitchen table, Augusta entered through the: pantry door. She looked at the assembly—Drumson, Brutus,, Ajax, Merc, Jupe and Jackson sitting on one side of the long! bare wooden table, facing Clytie, Balsam and Elvira. Augusta 1 clapped her hands together smartly.

"Has all work stopped here for the day? This is not Christmas*- No reason for you to stop your work. You, Ajax, get back to the bam. Jupe and Merc, there's plenty of weed-puUing and grading to be done. Upstairs with you. Balsam. I want the floor of the guest room waxed so you can see youri face in it. Clytie, get on with the supper and make that hot slaw like I told you to. And you, Elvira, set the table in the; dining room. We're using the pink china tonight with the; silver candlesticks. Drumson, I'll talk with you."

He followed her out into the hall and up the stairs to hen room. She sat down and motioned to him to come near her.

"I once told you, Drumson, that I was your friend. I hope I have proved it to you today. Do you know what would have happened to you, had Mr. Maxwell caught you and Sophie in: the pantry? Do you know? Even though it was not your fault, you would have been flogged within an inch of your life and probably sold,"

"Yes ma'am, Miz 'Gusta, I knows."

"So, I have shown you that you can depend on me." Foe the first time she smiled at him. "The time will come, Drum-son, when I shall need you to do a favor for me. Will yoo do it?"

"Shore will, Miz 'Gusta."

"It might be a difficult one."

"Don' make no diff'rence, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am. You my mist'ess. You pertected me today. I'm yo' boy, Miz 'Gusta,i ma'am."

"Then remember that, Drumson. Now go, see that things go on here as though nothing had happened. You'll never be bothered by Miss Sophie again. What that child needs is a mother, someone to make her toe the line."

"Pity she ain' got none, Miz 'Gusta, ma'am."

"She may have one sooner than she thinks. Now go, Drvmi-son."

He walked out of the door feeling that a great weight had slipped from his shoulders. Replacing it was an overwhelming love for Augusta. He might be Masta Hammond's slave but he sure was Miss Augusta's boy.

chapter ts.

Although he was calmed by Augusta's assurances, Drum-son was, nevertheless, fearful of what Hammond might already know or soon discover. He stood, in his starched white coat, behind Hammond's chair at dinner, facing Brutus across the length of white damask, pink china and burning candles, as Brutus took his place behind Augusta's chair. Their eyes met and he knew that underneath the carefullj composed impassivity of Brutus' features, there lurked the same fear. However, dinner passed smoothly without anj untoward incident. Hammond ate and enjoyed the ho! slaw which was one of the many new foods which Augusts was introducing. There were, Hammond had already dis covered, other foods besides fried ham and eggs.

Sophie, who usually ate with Hammond and Augusta, wa not present and Augusta excused her absence by saying tha she had a headache and was a bit feverish. Hammond dis played some surprise but no concern. Sophie had alwav been as healthy as a young mule and had never had ad ailments, but he accepted Augusta's explanation without ques tions. Drumson noticed that the conversation was desultorj carried on by both Hammond and Augusta without animatio: and merely to cover up an otherwise awkward silence. Han: mond really had only one topic of conversation—slaves. H was little interested in any talk that did not have some beaj ing on them, and was not adept at social chitchat. Afte Drumson had served the dessert and brought in the big silve tray with the shining new coffee service, Augusta rose froj the table with the suggestion that Drumson serve their cofiEe in the ladies' sitting room across the hall. Hammond fa lowed her, telling Drumson to bring him his regular afte; dinner toddy, instead of coffee.

Once seated uncomfortably on a fragile French chair i the front room, Hammond was forced to listen to August Drumson was able to hear very little of the conversatioj

only those words that were spoken as he entered with new toddies and removed the empty glasses. He knew they were talking about Sophie, and he could tell from the expression on Hammond's face that he was giving the matter serious attention. From the fragments that he could overhear and piece together, he was able to inform the others who were anxiously awaiting his reports in the kitchen that Augusta had managed to give Hammond some of the facts without attaching any blame to Sophie. It was merely that the child had been allowed to run wild, she said. She completely exonerated the male slaves with whom Sophie had been amusing herself. She insisted that Sophie was unaware she had been doing anything wrong, and that the male slaves were unwilling participants. It would serve no purpose to punish them, Augusta maintained, and it certainly would do Sophie no good. Hammond finally allowed himself to be convinced, although with reluctance. After the flare of his first anger had died, he agreed with Augusta. To scar every slave with lashes would certainly put a stigma on the Falconhurst breed. To kill them would be useless, for although slaves were essentially cattle, unlike steers they were worthless when dead for neither their flesh nor their hides were marketable. So what then would Augusta suggest? Hammond, it seemed, was open to suggestions.

Bringing in the third toddy Drumson overheard further information to be relayed to the expectant ears in the kitchen. Augusta was discussing the merits of sending Sophie away to school. Hammond, Drumson reported, was not entirely agreeable.

The fourth toddy however brought the news of Hammond's acceptance; Sophie was to be sent to a certain Miss Pentecost's school for young females in Mobile. Everybody felt relieved when Hammond himself brought his empty glass to the kitchen for his sixth drink and treated them all with drunken conviviality. Evidently they had nothing more to fear. Clytie slipped out the back door to keep a rendezvous with Clees; Merc and Jupe climbed the stairs to their rooms on the attic floor; Ajax went out to attend to some forgotten chore in the barn, taking Jackson with him. Balsam and Brutus went up to the room above the kitchen and Elvira followed them reluctantly, hoping that Hammond would release Drumson quickly after the removal of his boots. After bedding Hammond, Drumson would have little more to do except make a tour of the lower floor to see that all doors