The Heart's Kingdom

It was sunset when I awoke, and I felt as strong as two women and ready

for action, the call for which was upon me by the time Sallie had put me

into her favorite creation, selected from the ones she had hung in

closets and wardrobe.

"Mister Billy Harvey and Mister Hampton Dibrell is down on the front

porch ready to gallivant you, honey-bunch, and I seen Miss Letitia and

her Mister Cliff Gray coming in one direction and Miss Jessie in

another, so I reckon Sallie had better hurry with that New York twilight

she's fixing on you," Mammy announced as she stood in my doorway and

beamed upon me. "An' I expects the parson will be stepping over

likewise fer a few words, seeing you was so sweet and showed sich pretty

manners to him this morning," she added with reverent delight.

"Sweet? Showed such pretty manners?" I gasped, as Sallie fastened the

last hook and eye and stood beside Mammy to admire me.

"'Twas no more than you oughter done to the preacher, and I was proud of

my raising of you when you helt on to him and begged him to stay to

dinner. I was sho' disappointed that he had to leave us. I'm a Colored

Methodist, I am, and if I do say it, I knows how to shake a young pullet

in the skillet fer a preacher's taste, black or white. Now go on down

and stop that buzzing fer you on the front porch. Sallie, come and carry

out the tea and cakes to the guests," with which command to both of us

Mammy rolled her two hundred and fifty pounds down the hall with great

majesty, while Sallie meekly followed in her wake.

"Sweet! Showed such pretty manners!" I quoted to myself as I slowly

descended the steps and went out on the wide porch to find my friends

assembled under the budding rose vine that wreathed the tall white

pillars of the Poplars.

The parson was not there.

"Rescued!" exclaimed Billy as he grasped one of my hands and hung on

with a very good imitation of a drowning man seizing a lifeline. They

all laughed and Hampton Dibrell held my other hand as ardently, though

not in quite such light vein. I had to rescue it to accept Clifton

Gray's nosegay of huge violets from his greenhouse, and I embraced

Jessie with the nosegay pressed to her pink cheeks.

"Oh, Charlotte, I could fox-trot with you a week and not hesitate,"

exclaimed Billy, still clinging to me.

"Let's begin to-night," I assented warmly. Billy is contagious and to

dance with him is a high art.

"Let's motor out to the Club in Hamp's car and mine, have a chicken

supper and dance until sun-up," suggested Billy.