“As I do every time I open my mouth. But I can’t help it, Miss Susannah. ‘I am as Heaven made me,’ as somebody or other said—or ought to have said, if they didn’t,” retorted Wynnette.
As it was now bedtime it became necessary to attend to the sleeping accommodations of these unexpected guests. But first it was in order to offer them some refreshments. Henny was not required to draw a jug of hard cider, or to make and bake hoe cakes in the bedroom that night. Such “orgies” were only enacted by the aunt and niece in the seclusion of their private life.
But the corner cupboard was unlocked, and a store of rich cake and pound cake, with a cut-glass decanter of cherry bounce, all of which was kept for company, was brought forth and served to the visitors.
Meanwhile, Henny went upstairs to kindle a fire in the large, double-bedded spare room, just over Miss Sukey’s chamber.
“Miss Susannah,” said Odalite, while the group sat around the fire nibbling their cake and sipping their bounce, “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Anything in the world that I can do for you, Odalite, shall be done with the greatest pleasure,” earnestly replied the elder lady.
“I thank you very much, dear friend; and now I will explain: I promised Le, before we went away, that I would go to Greenbushes once a week to see that the rooms were regularly opened, aired and dried. I have kept the promise up to the present; but now, you know, I have to go with the family to Washington. I have no alternative, and for that reason I would like you to be my proxy.”
“I will, with great pleasure, my dear.”
“I could not ask you to go every week, that would be too much; but if you can go occasionally and see that all is right, and drop me a note to that effect, it will—well, it will relieve my conscience,” concluded Odalite, with a wan smile.
“I certainly will go every week, unless prevented by circumstances; and I will write to you as often as I go, to let you know how all is getting on there.”