Part 9 (1/2)
”Yessum.”
”They're Christian people and believe in everybody working hard. And living a clean life. Some people think we ought to have more servants than we do, but we get along. It's just like one big family.”
”Yessum.”
”Mr. Dalton's a fine man,” Peggy said.
”Oh, yessum. He is.”
”You know, he does a lot for your people.”
”My people?” asked Bigger, puzzled.
”Yes, the colored people. He gave over five million dollars to colored schools.”
”Oh!”
”But Mrs. Dalton's the one who's really nice. If it wasn't for her, he would not be doing what he does. She made him rich. She had millions when he married her. Of course, he made a lot of money himself afterwards out of real estate. But most of the money's hers. She's blind, poor thing. She lost her sight ten years ago. Did you see her yet?”
”Yessum.”
”Was she alone?”
”Yessum.”
”Poor thing! Mrs. Patterson, who takes care of her, is away for the week-end and she's all alone. Isn't it too bad, about her?”
”Oh, yessum,” he said, trying to get into his voice some of the pity for Mrs. Dalton that he thought Peggy expected him to feel.
”It's really more than a job you've got here,” Peggy went on. ”It's just like home. I'm always telling Mrs. Dalton that this is the only home I'll ever know. I wasn't in this country but two years before I started working here....”
”Oh,” said Bigger, looking at her.
”I'm Irish, you know,” she said. ”My folks in the old country feel about England like the colored folks feel about this country. So I know something about colored people. Oh, these are fine people, fine as silk. Even the girl. Did you meet her yet?”
”Yessum.”
”Tonight?”
”Yessum.”
Peggy turned and looked at him sharply.
”She's a sweet thing,” she said. ”I've known her since she was two years old. But she's kind of wild, she is. Always in hot water. Keeps her folks worried. The Lord only knows where she got her wild ways. But she's got 'em. If you stay around here long, you'll get to know her.”
Bigger wanted to ask about the girl, but thought that he had better not do that now.
”If you're through, I'll show you the furnace and the car, and where your room is,” she said and turned the fire low under the pots on the stove.
”Yessum.”
He rose and followed her out of the kitchen, down a narrow stairway at the end of which was the bas.e.m.e.nt. It was dark; Bigger heard a sharp click and the light came on.
”This way.... What did you say your name was?”
”Bigger, mam.”
”What?”
”Bigger.”
He smelt the scent of coal and ashes and heard fire roaring. He saw a red bed of embers glowing in the furnace.
”This is the furnace,” she said.
”Yessum.”
”Every morning you'll find the garbage here; you burn it and put the bucket on the dumb-waiter.”
”Yessum.”
”You never have to use a shovel for coal. It's a self-feeder. Look, see?”
Peggy pulled a lever and there came a loud rattle of fine lumps of coal sliding down a metal chute. Bigger stooped and saw, through the cracks of the furnace, the coal spreading out fanwise over the red bed of fire.
”That's fine,” he mumbled in admiration.
”And you don't have to worry about water, either. It fills itself.”
Bigger liked that; it was easy; it would be fun, almost.
”Your biggest trouble will be taking out the ashes and sweeping. And keep track of how the coal runs; when it's low, tell me or Mr. Dalton and we'll order some more.”
”Yessum. I can handle it.”
”Now, to get to your room all you have to do is go up these back stairs. Come on.”
He followed up a stretch of stairs. She opened a door and switched on a light and Bigger saw a large room whose walls were covered with pictures of girls' faces and prize fighters.
”This was Green's room. He was always one for pictures. But he kept things neat and nice. It's plenty warm here. Oh, yes: before I forget. Here are the keys to the room and the garage and the car. Now, I'll show you the garage. You have to get to it from the outside.”
He followed her down the steps and outside into the driveway. It was much warmer.
”Looks like snow,” Peggy said.
”Yessum.”
”This is the garage,” she said, unlocking and pus.h.i.+ng open a door which, as it swung in, made lights come on automatically. ”You always bring the car out and wait at the side door for the folks. Let's see. You say you're driving Miss Dalton tonight?”
”Yessum.”