Part 28 (1/2)
”Yes, yes, Nannie. What was it you wanted?”
The woman stood quite rigid.
”You was there, Miss--this afternoon?”
”Yes--”
”Did you notice anything, Miss?”
She drew a deep breath.
”What d'you mean, Nannie? Nannie, what?”
”It's him, Miss. It was last night--”
The woman broke off.
”Yes, Nannie;” Genevieve Evans urged.
”I don't rightly know how to tell it to you, Miss. It's hard to find the words to say it in. He'd kill me if he knew I come here and told you.
But you got to know. I can't keep it to myself. He's been fierce of late. What with making so much more money. And the drinking, Miss. And the women. The women, they're there all hours, now.”
”My mother's house!” Genevieve Evans said it uncertainly.
”Yes, Miss,” the woman went on. ”And it was almost as bad when she lived.”
”I know, Nannie. I've always known!”
”But last night, Miss; after they'd gone. I was asleep, Miss Genevieve.
It woke me. It was awful. Plain horrid, Miss.”
”What--Nannie?”
”The scream, Miss--A shriek of pain.”
”No,--no, Nannie!” Genevieve Evans interrupted wildly. ”Don't say it!
Don't!”
The woman looked at her wonderingly.
”Why, Miss Genevieve--Poor, little lamb.”
”Nannie, Nannie.” She made a tremendous effort to control herself. ”What was it you were going to say?”
”The scream, Miss. In the night. I rushed down. I knocked at his door.
He wouldn't let me in. He was moaning, Miss. And cursing. And moaning.
He was swearing about a knife. I listened, Miss--at the keyhole. I was scared. He kept cursing and moaning about a knife; about his arm--”
”Nannie--”