Page 41 of Master of Paradise
He lifted her gently into her saddle and madesure that the ankle was in a comfortable position. "Brave girl," hemurmured with encouragement, and slowly, so she would not bejolted, led her mare toward home.
It was sometime after lunch that Mammy Loubegan wailing and carrying on incoherently.
Mandy was instantly alarmed. "Mammy, what isit?"
"Lawd God, Mandy, ah wuz only lettin' her gether sleep. Ah didn' know! Fore God, ah didn' know."
"Mammy, tell me what's wrong. Is itMother?"
"Yes'm, yes'm. Ah can't wake her-- yo' gottado it."
Amanda rushed up the staircase holding herbreath. She knew the moment she entered the room. Her mother's bodyhad a stillness and her mouth had gone slack as if eased of allpain. She went quietly to the bed and reached out a tentative hand.Her mother's body was quite cold. "Oh mamma," she whisperedsoftly.
Mammy's wails started up again. "Shake hergood! Wake her up!"
"Mammy, she's gone." Mandy choked back tears."We must find Daddy."
"No sir, no sir! Ah can't tell him. Lordy,Lordy, dis what come of hanging things on doorknobs. Ah tol' dattrashy Cleo a thousand times, don't yo' go hangin' things ondoorknobs!"
"Mammy Lou that's just a silly superstition.You know Mother has been ill for a long time."
Mammy's wails had roused the other servantsuntil they were buzzing like hornets with a stick up theirnest.
Bernard, coming into the house, knewimmediately something was wrong.
Mandy met him coming up the stairs. "Ohpapa--" was all she could manage before the tears flooded her eyesand choked off the rest of her words.
Bernard sent one man for Dr. Caldwell, andanother with messages to the nearby plantations. As soon as thewomen heard the news, they would rally round and take care of allthe unpleasant necessities that death brought.
Aunt Billie kept out of everyone's way andoffered no annoying suggestions. Bernard seemed lost.
"Daddy, Jennifer has gone over to ParadiseHill. Should we send a message?"
"No, no. Nicholas will bring her home. I'lltell them when they get here. I must send a message to Brandon andtell him to come straight home."
Mandy sank down on the bottom step of thestaircase with her head pressed against the newel post. The hardlittle knot of pain centered in her chest was almost unbearable.The late afternoon shadows began to gather, then she heard theunmistakable lilt of Jennifer's laughter.
The front door was flung open and Nicholasstrode through, cradling Jenny in his arms, and laughing down ather.
Mandy shot up from the step, her hand goinginvoluntarily to her throat.
The merry couple came to a halt at the sightof her, and Nicholas set Jennifer on her feet.
The pain in Mandy's chest spread out until itthreatened to consume her. With a sob, she ran past them out of thehouse.
Bernard, ashen-faced, came down the stairswith Mammy Lou at his heels. "Sweetheart, I'm afraid I have somedreadful news. What we've all been fearing has happened. Your sweetmother passed away this afternoon."
"Oh no," Jennifer whispered, shocked anddisbelieving.
"Go with Mammy, sweetheart. She'll take careof you."
"Are you all right?" Nicholas asked Bernard."Let me get you a brandy."
"No, no. Dr. Caldwell will be here anyminute. I do need you to run some errands for me, Nicholas. Can'tdepend on servants, you know. They go to pieces in a crisis."
"I'm so sorry, Bernard. I'll do anything atall."
"We'll have to bury her tomorrow in thisdamned heat. Can you bring back the minister?"
