Walter was a fool, “a young damned fool,” to use Jawn’s technical expression. Why should one take seriously the act of an idiot? Why, indeed! She could not have possibly said anything of the sort, even in fun. At any angle that he looked at it such a conversation between Walter and Jerry was unbelievable. Thunderation! What an idea to put into a man’s head!
But to one’s own brother may not one make confessions? He had never been a sister, himself, so he could not guess their habits; but hadn’t he read somewhere in books that sometimes, especially at night, they talk things out frankly with the brother? Which only shows how far his mind had swung out of its normal course. Who could fancy anyone of Jerry’s independence making sentimental confessions to a half-witted brother?
“G’ mawnin’, Mr. Richard! G’ mawnin’!”
George Alexander’s white poll rose slowly out of a hydrangea bush wherein he seemed almost to have been hiding.
“Good-morning, George Alexander,” Richard responded eagerly. He was glad of the chance to talk to someone not of the immediate family. “That hydrangea is a bigger plant than you are!”
“Tol’rable big, sir! Tol’rable big! But up on de hill yondah, we’s got young gi-unts. Trees, I calls ’em—reg’lar hydranj’a trees!”
“You’ve been here all your life, haven’t you, George?” Richard asked.
“All my life—so fah!” he laughed; “I was bo’n hyah an’ I plum reckon ’at some day, when I gets tir’d idlin’ ’round, I’ll jess natchully die hyah.”
“I don’t see you idling around much. You’re always busy at something. Do you have charge of the gardens, too?”
“Yassuh,” he nodded his old white head sagely. “I’m de boss! De black boys do de easy workin’ ’round, an’ I do all de heavy lookin’ ovah!” George Alexander’s laugh was a low, cackling “Hyah! Hyah!” He punctuated his speeches with it, a notice in each instance of a humorous remark, a laugh exactly timed to give one a chance to “see the point.” In these days George Alexander was a great curiosity, one of the very last specimens of the old-time “darkey,” intelligent, nimble-witted, outspoken but diplomatic, loyal, an efficient manager, never servile but absolutely determined to be nothing more than a perfect servant.