“Why not? It is an obvious one, under the circumstances.”
“Yes; but think of the absurdity of having mammy seated at the piano, thumping upon the keys every day.”
“She will not thump. And there is no absurdity. She will in this way keep the instrument in tune, and I should not at all wonder if in the process she should teach herself to play by ear. She will, if she had the ordinary musical talent of her race,” said Drusilla.
And then seeing General Lyon was actually nodding, and that Dick was trying to smother a yawn, she lighted the bedroom candles.
Anna put one in Dick’s hand, and waked up the General.
And the party bade each other good-night, and went to their several rooms.
The earliest hours next day were spent in the business that brought Drusilla to Cedarwood—the inspection of her little estate.
General Lyon, who had spent the best part of his long life in agricultural pursuits, was well fitted to judge correctly of such matters. And he pronounced everything connected with the farm to be very well ordered, and he complimented “mammy” and her “old man” on the skill and fidelity with which they had administered affairs.
By ten o’clock, the travelers having settled the business that brought them to Cedarwood, left for Washington to meet the mid-day train for New York, where they arrived at eleven o’clock at night.
They went to one of the up-town hotels, where they succeeded in procuring good rooms on the second floor. After a late but light supper, they retired to rest, and, fatigued by their long ride, slept soundly.