She saw at last that it
was our dearest wish. And she yielded.
In the meanwhile Dorothy and I were driving about the country or sitting
under the trees in the yard, living through great rapture, mothered by
Mrs. Clayton, and so constantly served by Mammy and Jenny and Mose.
Then the day came. The house was rented. Mrs. Clayton stored some of her
furnishings. The choicest things she gave to Dorothy--lovely mahogany
and silver.
On a morning, with Mammy and Jenny in our traveling party, with Mose
helping us to the boat, hiding his saddened spirit under a forced humor,
with Mrs. Rutledge and many friends to see us off, we took our
departure. Again the musical whistle of the boat; again the stir and
vociferous calls of the pier; again on the waters of the Ohio bound for
St. Louis. Again the great Mississippi.
But Mrs. Clayton left us at St. Louis to visit Reverdy and Sarah. She
would come to Chicago later.
CHAPTER XXXIV
I took a house in Madison Street, some two blocks from the lake. There
was first the business of having Mammy and Jenny registered, something
similar to a dog license. But Mr. Williams helped me about that.
I had not seen Abigail yet, but of course she knew that I was married. A
vague faithlessness accused me. And yet I had never spoken a word of
love to her.
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