“How did you know?”
“It was not too hard to infer. You have been concealed from the mistress; the young lady is impressed by wealth; you are the idealistic one who is not.”
At last I was able to talk. I explained her indenture, her ambitious plans, and how I expected her to end everything between us at any moment. “And there’s nothing I can do about it,” I finished bitterly.
“That is right, Hodge. There is nothing you can do about it because—You will forgive me if I speak plainly, brutally even?” “Go ahead. Tirzah—” what a joy it was just to say the name “—Tirzah has told me often enough how unrealistic I am.” “That was not what I meant. I would say there is nothing you can do about it because there is nothing you wish to do about it.”
“What do you mean? I’d do anything I could....”
“Would you? Give up books, for instance?”
“Why should I? What good would that do?”
“I do not say you should or that it would do good. I only try to show that the young lady, charming and important as she is, is not the most magnetic or important thing in your life. Romantic love is a curious byproduct of west European feudalism that Africans and Asiatics can only criticize gingerly. You shake your head with obstinacy; you do not believe me. Good, then I have not hurt you.”
“I can’t see that youve helped me much, either.”
“Ay! What did you expect from the black man of Haiti? Miracles?”