"I hope this'll suit ya fine, Miss," The black slave say, holdin' up a candle an' lightin' up mos' the room. I can't see it too well, but there a bed, an' a mirror- some extra clothes hangin' in the door a the closet. It'll be fine.
"Yes, thank you."
"If you be needin' anythin', I'll jus' be down the hall."
"Very well," I say, "Thank you."
My voice is very dismissive, but she don't leave. She stand with me, like she waitin' for instructions, or the like.
"I all set."
"You don' need the light, then?" She lift the candle higher, makin' the light hit the celin' of the chamber, not jus' the floor like it was 'fore. There ain't much to see on the cellin'- it plain an' simple. Painted a color, that seem to look on the lighter side- though I can't exactly tell with only a candle ta see by.
"Can'y ya jus' give it ta me?"
"Oh, no Miss," she say, shakin' her little head. "No, no. Miss. Dobbins, she don't allow no candles up while year sleepin'."
It weird. But I can tell there a difference, 'tween the way she say 'er master's name, to the way Samuel say daddy's. Very different. She seem to not have as much hate. Then again, she only one a two slaves. Maybe she actually friends with 'er master- Miss. Dobbins. A widow.
"I be careful with it- blow out the flame, 'fore I sleep."
"Oh no, I can't let ya do that. Miss Dobbins wouldn't be too happy if I let ya do that."
"Well then- how I supposed ta see?"
She sigh, "Well- when mornin' comes- the sun' light it right up. See the window, over there?"
I nod. An' she continue. "An' if ya need mo' light- jus' come an' get me. I probby be cookin' danestairs. As fo' now- go 'head change to year sleepin' gowns an' get on in- I'll wait 'till you all situated."
"You gonna watch me change?"
"Well, 'course." Then lookin' at my expression. "I can close my eyes- if you'd like."
"Uh- no. That won't be necessary- I don't want you to drop the candles. Jus' don't look, alright?"
"Yes, thank you."
"If you be needin' anythin', I'll jus' be down the hall."
"Very well," I say, "Thank you."
My voice is very dismissive, but she don't leave. She stand with me, like she waitin' for instructions, or the like.
"I all set."
"You don' need the light, then?" She lift the candle higher, makin' the light hit the celin' of the chamber, not jus' the floor like it was 'fore. There ain't much to see on the cellin'- it plain an' simple. Painted a color, that seem to look on the lighter side- though I can't exactly tell with only a candle ta see by.
"Can'y ya jus' give it ta me?"
"Oh, no Miss," she say, shakin' her little head. "No, no. Miss. Dobbins, she don't allow no candles up while year sleepin'."
It weird. But I can tell there a difference, 'tween the way she say 'er master's name, to the way Samuel say daddy's. Very different. She seem to not have as much hate. Then again, she only one a two slaves. Maybe she actually friends with 'er master- Miss. Dobbins. A widow.
"I be careful with it- blow out the flame, 'fore I sleep."
"Oh no, I can't let ya do that. Miss Dobbins wouldn't be too happy if I let ya do that."
"Well then- how I supposed ta see?"
She sigh, "Well- when mornin' comes- the sun' light it right up. See the window, over there?"
I nod. An' she continue. "An' if ya need mo' light- jus' come an' get me. I probby be cookin' danestairs. As fo' now- go 'head change to year sleepin' gowns an' get on in- I'll wait 'till you all situated."
"You gonna watch me change?"
"Well, 'course." Then lookin' at my expression. "I can close my eyes- if you'd like."
"Uh- no. That won't be necessary- I don't want you to drop the candles. Jus' don't look, alright?"
