Here he stopped and Mr. Middleton said, "You have not told me of the
mother. Does she still live?"
Ashton answered, "She was living when I left England, but Inez has since
written me of her death."
"That will do, Ashton; that will do. I do not wish to hear any more now,"
said Mr. William.
While Mr. Middleton and Ashton were relating their adventures, Aunt Katy
was busily engaged in superintending the arrangement of "Marster
William's" sleeping room. Mrs. Middleton had bidden Judy to see that
everything was put in order, but Aunt Katy seemed to think nothing could
be done right unless she had an oversight of it. So she was walking back
and forth, consulting with Judy a little and ordering her a good deal.
"Now, Judy," said she, "hain't you no more idees of ilegance than to push
the bedstead smack up agin the clarbuds; just pull it out a foot or two,
as old Miss use to do."
Judy complied with her request and she continued: "Lordy sakes--don't Miss
Nancy know better than to put Marster William to sleep in such coarse
sheets," at the same time casting a rueful glance at the linens which Judy
had put upon the bed. "You set down, Judy," said Aunt Katy, "and I'll tend
to the bed myself."
So saying she hobbled off to her cabin and opening her "old red chist,"
drew from it a pair of half-worn, but very fine linen sheets. These she
shook most lustily in order to free them from the rose leaves, lavender
sprigs and tobacco, which she had placed between their folds. With the
former she thought to perfume them, while the latter was put there for the
purpose of keeping out moths. The old creature had heard that tobacco was
good to keep moths from woolens, and she knew of no reason why it would
not answer every purpose for linen.
"Thar," said she, on returning to the house, "these begins to look a
little like Marster William. They was gin to me by old marster, jest afore
he died. They 'longed to old Miss, and if any one on us could read, I
reckon we should find her name on 'em somewhar writ in brawdery."
When the bed and room were adjusted to her satisfaction, she went down to
the kitchen and took a seat there. Here Aunt Judy found her about ten
o'clock that night.
"What on airth you sittin' here for?" said she.