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hair was the only palliative of a dark complexion。 Many of the guests
would not have been casually distinguishable from white people of the
poorer class。 Others bore unmistakable traces of Indian ancestry；for
Cherokee and Tuscarora blood was quite widely diffused among the free
negroes of North Carolina； though well…nigh lost sight of by the curious
custom of the white people to ignore anything but the negro blood in those
who were touched by its potent current。 Very few of those present had
been slaves。 The free colored people of Patesville were numerous
enough before the war to have their own 〃society；〃 and human enough to
despise those who did not possess advantages equal to their own； and at
this time they still looked down upon those who had once been held in
bondage。 The only black man present occupied a chair which stood on a
broad chest in one corner； and extracted melody from a fiddle to which a
whole generation of the best people of Patesville had danced and made
merry。 Uncle Needham seldom played for colored gatherings； but made
an exception in Mis' Molly's case； she was not white； but he knew her past；
if she was not the rose； she had at least been near the rose。 When the
company had gathered； Mary B。； as mistress of ceremonies； whispered to
Uncle Needham； who tapped his violin sharply with the bow。
〃Ladies an' gent'emens； take yo' pa'dners fer a Fuhginny reel！〃
Mr。 Wain； as the guest of honor； opened the ball with his hostess。 He
wore a broadcloth coat and trousers； a heavy glittering chain across the
spacious front of his white waistcoat； and a large red rose in his buttonhole。
If his boots were slightly run down at the heel； so trivial a detail passed
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
unnoticed in the general splendor of his attire。 Upon a close or hostile
inspection there would have been some features of his ostensibly good…
natured facethe shifty eye； the full and slightly drooping lower lip
which might have given a student of physiognomy food for reflection。
But whatever the latent defects of Wain's character； he proved himself this
evening a model of geniality； presuming not at all upon his reputed wealth；
but winning golden opinions from those who came to criticise； of whom；
of course； there were a few； the company being composed of human
beings。
When the dance began； Wain extended his large； soft hand to Mary B。；
yellow； buxom； thirty； with white and even teeth glistening behind her full
red lips。 A younger sister of Mary B。's was paired with Billy Oxendine； a
funny little tailor； a great gossip； and therefore a favorite among the
women。 Mis' Molly graciously consented； after many protestations of
lack of skill and want of practice； to stand up opposite Homer Pettifoot；
Mary B。's husband； a tall man； with a slight stoop； a bald crown； and full；
dreamy eyes；a man of much imagination and a large fund of anecdote。
Two other couples completed the set； others were restrained by
bashfulness or religious scruples； which did not yield until later in the
evening。
The perfumed air from the garden without and the cut roses within
mingled incongruously with the alien odors of musk and hair oil； of which
several young barbers in the company were especially redolent。 There
was a play of sparkling eyes and glancing feet。 Mary B。 danced with the
languorous grace of an Eastern odalisque； Mis' Molly with the mincing；
hesitating step of one long out of practice。 Wain performed saltatory
prodigies。 This was a golden opportunity for the display in which his
soul found delight。 He introduced variations hitherto unknown to the
dance。 His skill and suppleness brought a glow of admiration into the
eyes of the women； and spread a cloud of jealousy over the faces of
several of the younger men； who saw themselves eclipsed。
Rena had announced in advance her intention to take no active part in
the festivities。 〃I don't feel like dancing； mammaI shall never dance
again。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃Well； now； Rena；〃 answered her mother； 〃of co'se you're too dignified；
sence you've be'n 'sociatin' with white folks； to be hoppin' roun' an' kickin'
up like Ma'y B。 an' these other yaller gals； but of co'se； too； you can't slight
the comp'ny entirely； even ef it ain't jest exac'ly our party； you'll have to
pay 'em some little attention； 'specially Mr。 Wain； sence you're goin' down
yonder with 'im。〃
Rena conscientiously did what she thought politeness required。 She
went the round of the guests in the early part of the evening and
exchanged greetings with them。 To several requests for dances she
replied that she was not dancing。 She did not hold herself aloof because
of pride； any instinctive shrinking she might have felt by reason of her
recent association with persons of greater refinement was offset by her
still more newly awakened zeal for humanity； they were her people； she
must not despise them。 But the occasion suggested painful memories of
other and different scenes in which she had lately participated。 Once or
twice these memories were so vivid as almost to overpower her。 She
slipped away from the company； and kept in the background as much as
possible without seeming to slight any one。
The guests as well were dimly conscious of a slight barrier between
Mis' Molly's daughter and themselves。 The time she had spent apart
from these friends of her youth had rendered it impossible for her ever to
meet them again upon the plane of common interests and common
thoughts。 It was much as though one； having acquired the vernacular of
his native country； had lived in a foreign land long enough to lose the
language of his childhood without acquiring fully that of his adopted
country。 Miss Rowena Warwick could never