CHAPTER ONE

The Gayoso House Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee

gleamed like Mount Olympus on the bluff high above
the Mississippi River. Its six fifty-foot-high Doric col-
umns topped by the grand white marble pediment had
become a sure landmark to the lesser beings on the river.
A pallid December sun rose behind the hotel, its weak
light still making the grand edifice seem to glow.
Jeanne Bettencourts eyes watered a little as she
stared up at the hotel. The wind was keening off the
river, and as she hurried along Front Street she adjusted
her woolen muffler to cover her mouth and nose.
Above the plain gray wool were wide-set velvet brown
eyes, odd because they had a perfect almond shape that
was more East Indies than red-blooded American. The
searching bitter wind teased out several thick chestnut-
brown curls from her mobcap and hood, and impa-
tiently she tucked them back in.
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2
GILBERT MORRIS
She went around to the back of the hotel to the ser-
vants entrance, of course, because she was a chamber-
maid, not a guest. Sometimes Jeanne dreamed of having
enough money to stay at Gayoso House. It was a luxuri-
ous place, with real brass room keys and fobs, daintily
wrapped guest soaps, satiny bedlinens, eiderdown com-
forters, fireplaces, and velvet chairs and cherry tables in
each room. And most elegant and desiredmarble tubs,
silver faucets, hot and cold running water, and even
flush toilets. Indoor plumbing was grandiose, indeed.
A crowd of maids, porters, waiters, and wood boys
were gathered at the service entrance, and just as Jeanne
reached the bottom step the great Gothic bells of St.
Peters church began to ring the hour of seven a.m. The
door was opened by Mrs. Wiedemann, the stern German
housekeeper, who stood frowning as the servants filed
in. Jeanne was last, on the final stroke of seven, and Mrs.
Wiedemann frowned. You are almost late, Jeanne.
Yes, maam, she said submissively, following the
womans heavy tread into the housekeeping supply
room. She wasnt late, of course. But Jeanne was lucky
to have this job, and she never crossed Mrs. Wiedemann.
Under the circumstances, the two got along very well.
The housekeeping supply room was something
like a long railroad car. Along one wall was a row of
hooks, each with a neatly printed white card above it.
Jeanne hung her cape and muffler on the hook labeled
J.Bettencourt, gave another quick pat-push to the hair
escaping from her mobcap, and checked her white
apron to make sure it was spotless. At the Gayoso one
was not required to have a uniform as such though
they required that the maids wear gray skirts and plain
white blouses. The hotel supplied each maid with two
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aprons and two mobcaps, and if you came to work at
the Gayoso with your apron dirty you did not work at
the Gayoso on that day. Satisfied that she presented a
neat and clean appearance, Jeanne began to gather her
cleaning supplies. They were all stored in a long row
of closets across from the hooks, kept locked to deter
stealing. Mrs. Wiedemann had a very impressive bunch
of keys hanging at her waist. She stood watching suspi-
ciously as the maids gathered their supplies.
When they were all ready with their five-gallon
buckets full, they started filing up the back staircase to
begin the day. Mrs. Wiedemann called out, Jeanne, I
would speak with you for a moment.
Jeanne kept her face expressionless, though she was
dismayed. She never knew what Mrs. Wiedemann was
going to say to her when she asked to speak to her.
Sometimes she berated her for some imaginary wrong,
or chided her for the faults of other maids assigned to
her. Sometimes she asked polite questions of Jeanne,
as to how so-and-so new maid was adjusting, how Mr.
Such-and-Such was enjoying his stay, was Jeanne happy
with her supplies, did she feel anything useful may be
added to the cleaning materials?
Jeanne hurried back to her and asked politely, Yes,
Mrs. Wiedemann?
Yes, Jeanne. This week we have some soaps barely
used from overnight guests. Also we have pillowslip
turnover. You may buy ten soaps for one penny, and five
pillowcases for one penny, if you wish.
Jeannes dark winged eyebrows rose with surprise.
All such perquisites belonged to the housekeeper, and
in four years this was the first time she had ever known
Mrs. Wiedemann to let anyone have a chance to buy any
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GILBERT MORRIS
castoff supplies. And the price she quoted was excel-
lent; the swift thought went through Jeannes mind, she
could sell them to the secondhands five for a penny, one for
a penny . . .
Yes, maam, I would very much like to buy some
soaps and pillowcases, Jeanne said gratefully. Ten soaps
for one cent and five pillowslips for one cent is very
generous. Thank you, maam.
To Jeannes surprise, Mrs. Wiedemann seemed
slightly uncomfortable. The pillowslips are very thin.
Perhaps we make it six for one penny. Yes. I will have
them for you tonight, when you leave.
Oh, I am so sorry, Mrs. Wiedemann, I have no money
with me at all, Jeanne said in embarrassment. Please,
hold them for me until tomorrow, Ill bring the money
then.
No. You take them tonight. I know you will bring
the money, Jeanne. Now get to work, please. She turned
and marched away.
Jeanne was ecstatic as she flew up the three flights of
stairs to the top floor. It was December 18
th
, 1854, two
days before her daughters birthday and seven days until
Christmas morning. She would have time to sew a soft
longsleeved chemise from the pillowcases in the next
week, so Marvel would have two birthday presents and
two Christmas presents.
Jeanne began, as always, with the first room, #301.
All of the rooms at the Gayoso were alike, but the
wealthiest and most prestigious patrons preferred the
top floor. In winter it was warm, and in summer the
cool breezes off the river kept them bearable. The third
floor was, of course, the most difficult one for the cham-
bermaids because they had to travel up and down three
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flights of stairs to resupply or to take their twenty-
minute lunch break. Mrs. Wiedemann had started giv-
ing Jeanne the top floor every day she worked, and at
first Jeanne had thought that the woman was deliber-
ately making it difficult for her. But then she realized
that the third floor patrons tipped generously, as a rule.
Too, Mrs. Wiedemann had started assigning all the new-
est maids to work with Jeanne, and over time she had
stopped coming up to the top floor to check the maids
work. Jeanne slowly started training the maids, and then
supervising them.
Jeanne was very happy to see that her first guest was
a regular, an older man named Mr. Borden. She knew
that he was a very prominent man, for she had over-
heard snippets of conversations and she knew that when
he was in town he saw the mayor, city council members,
judges, presidents of companies, insurance executives,
and the sheriffs and marshals. He was no salesman.
She knocked twice on the door and said,
Chambermaid to attend the room, sir?
Yes, yes, come in, come in, he called. She opened
the door, stepped in, and curtseyed. At the Gayoso the
chambermaids always curtseyed.
He was sitting at the tea table by the window wearing
a maroon satin dressing gown over his clothes, for the fire
had not yet caught well and the room was chilly. His tea
table was littered with newspapers. A fat cigar was lit and
smoldered in an ashtray next to a silver coffee service. Mr.
Borden was a round, jovial man, bald with a thick silver
fringe and sideburns, and bright blue eyes. Jeanne! Oh, I
am glad to see you, Jeanne. Come in, come in, girl!
Good morning, Mr. Borden, Jeanne said with real
pleasure. She went to the fireplace, noting that the
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GILBERT MORRIS
wood boy had cleaned the mantel and hearth well, and
stirred the coals and added another log. The flames
leapt up and the fire began crackling comfortably. Then
Jeanne picked up her bucket and started toward the
bathroom.
Just a minute, Jeanne, come here, I have something
for you, he called after her. Besides, Im too lazy to
pour my own coffee. Sad, isnt it? Would you do me the
honor?
Of course, sir, she said, returning to pour out a
steaming cup of coffee with three sugars and heavy
cream, just as he liked it.
Mm, you fix it better than I do anyway, he said
appreciatively. Now, Ive got some things hereoh,
where is the blastedthere it is. Frank Leslies Illustrated
Weekly. From last week, but I thought that you might
not have seen it yet, he said tactfully.
No, I have not, Jeanne said. Thats very kind of
you, Mr. Borden. Thank you.
He waved dismissively. And theres some other
papers, the New York Herald, the Arkansas Gazette, the
local Appeal. I believe youll find them underneath the
night table.
Jeanne found the newspapers and looked up at him
questioningly. You brought all these for me, sir? Mr.
Borden always left her his newspapers when he stayed,
but this was a stack of about a dozen current papers.
Of course, he replied with a smile. Ever since I
caught you sneaking a read of my Herald, Ive thought
about it. You see, Jeanne, Ive never thought twice about
buying half-a-dozen newspapers every morning, skim-
ming the headlines, then throwing them away. But you
cant do that, can you?
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No, sir, Jeanne said, slowly rising. But I never meant
to
I know, he interrupted her hastily. No, you
wouldnt. I just think you should be able to read the
newspapers if you want. Very busily he re-lit his cigar,
sipped his coffee, shuffled newspapers, and finally began
reading.
Jeanne put the newspapers outside the door and
began cleaning. She scrubbed the bathroom, polished
the faucets, cleaned the toilet, then went into the room
to shake out the sheets and plump the comforter,
change the pillowslips, remake the bed, sweep the car-
pet, and clean the windows. As she was gathering her
supplies to leave, he looked up from his newspaper and
said, Jeanne, dont forget your Leslies.
She had not forgotten itfar from itbut she was
too embarrassed to intrude upon him to greedily shuffle
through the untidy pile of newspapers on the table to
find it again. She went back to the table, and it was lying
to the side, with a five-dollar bill on top of it. Eyes wide,
she stared at him.
Merry Christmas, Jeanne! he said as jovially as
Santa Claus himself.
Oh, thank you, sir, she breathed. Itsitsvery
generous, sir.
Not really, he said lightly, then cocked his head, as
alert as a bird. Jeanne, may I be extremely impertinent
and ask you a personal question? Dunno why youd
object, you see, Im already rude enough to call you by
your given name and smoke cigars in front of you.
I dont object to any of that, sir, she said with a
small smile, and you may ask me a question.
Mm. Are you married, Jeanne?
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GILBERT MORRIS
I am a widow, Mr. Borden.
And do you have children?
Yes, sir. A daughter.
And how old is she?
She will be six years old in two days, sir, Jeanne
replied, now thoroughly surprised. In her experience
even the kindest guests had no interest in a chamber-
maids life, unless it was one of the men who took a
great deal of interest, generally in a chambermaids per-
son. When Mr. Borden had asked the first question, she
had a moment of discomfort, but it had swiftly passed.
She knew he wasnt that type of man. She had always
known. Still, his questioning was curious.
And what is her name, if you please? he continued.
Marvel Bettencourt. No middle name, sir.
He nodded. I have two sons and two daughters.
Theyre all grown now, of course. And I have a grandson
that is possibly the most intelligent, the most wondrous
child that has ever been born.
Deadpan, Jeanne said, Im sorry to tell you this, sir,
but my daughter is quite the cleverest and most won-
derful child ever.
He laughed, a delightful boyish sound. So she is
clever, is she? Must take after her mother. Thank you
for indulging my boorish questions. Ive just wondered
about you, you see. Id like for you and your daughter to
have a good Christmas.
Mr. Borden, with this money, I can assure you that I
and my daughter will have a glorious Christmas. Thank
you again, sir. She gathered up her things, gave him a
final curtsey and a smile, and left.
As soon as she pulled the door closed behind her
she stretched out the five-dollar bill and stared at it
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in wonder. In the previous Christmases, she had made
some one-dollar tips but never five dollars. Happily
tucking it into her ankle boot, she checked her list for
the occupant of the next room. She was the only cham-
bermaid that could read. The other girls had lists with
the room numbers carefully drawn the exact same way
as the brass numerals on the doors.
With some trepidation she knocked on Room #302, for
her cleaning list told her that this was J. B. Cunningham.
Chambermaid to attend the room, sir? she called.
Come on in.
She entered the room, which was deliciously heated
by the roaring fire. On the air was the sharp mentho-
lated scent of shaving lather. The bathroom door was
open and delicate wisps of steam wafted out of it. A
young man peered around the door, his face half smoth-
ered with big dollops of shaving cream. He held a
straight razor in his hand. Hello, Beautiful! Just give me
a minute, Im finishing up.
Its not like Im calling on you, Jeanne thought grimly
with an angry bob to pass for a curtsey. No, Mr.
Cunningham, since you are still at your morning toilette
I will return later.
She turned, but too late, he popped into the room.
He had trousers onfor which Jeanne was excessively
gratefulbut he was in his sock feet, and he wasnt
wearing a shirt. His face still had shaving cream on it,
but he seemed unaware as he came and put both hands
on her waist. Who says toilette? Youre not like any
chambermaid I ever saw, Jeanne. He tried to draw her
closer. And youre so beautiful
With deliberation Jeanne grabbed his hands and lifted
them away from her away from her as if they were some
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GILBERT MORRIS
loathsome rodents, and said icily, Didnt you know? I
learned it at Chambermaid School. Its very exclusive;
they all look like me at Chambermaid School.
He laughed. Wish I knew where that school was!
Aw, cmon, Jeanne, Im sorry Imer
Half naked? she supplied. I know that word, too. Ill
be back after I do the next two rooms, Mr. Cunningham.
Please be clothed by then.
Without waiting for his comment, she flung the door
open and stalked out. J.B. Cunningham pawed all of
the maids. The first time she had cleaned his room, he
had lightly laid his hands on her shoulders, then turned
her around to give her a jolly hug, and then he tried to
kiss her. She had been new, and frightened, and awk-
ward, and she had barely managed to keep darting away
from him until finally she had managed to complete her
work. Since then he had tried again and again, but as
Jeanne gained more experience she had become quite
adept at keeping men at arms length. This was the first
time, however, that he had been half-clothedor half-
naked, as she saw itand she had been sharper with
him than ever before. Lost that tip, she thought dryly as
she went to the next room.
The guest wasnt in the room, so Jeanne unlocked it
with her master key and went in. After automatically
checking the hearth she went into the bathroom and
paused before the big gilt-edged mirror over the sink to
study her reflection. In her opinion, J.B. Cunningham
always told her she was beautiful because he was try-
ing to seduce her. She was not beautiful; she was pretty.
Her eyes were dark and fringed with heavy dark lashes,
and above them her eyebrows made perfect arched
wings. Her face was a small oval, with a delicate nose
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and wide mouth. Her hair was rich dark brown, luxuri-
ously thick and curly, reaching almost to her waist. She
was of average height but her frame was slender, almost
boyish. She looked much younger than her age; she was
twenty-five but she knew that she barely looked eigh-
teen. That, she reflected, was something that women
usually desired, but to her it was a nuisance. Men would
have been more respectful of her, surely, if they knew
she was a widow with a young daughter.
Efficiently she finished the room and went on to
the next, noting that it was another frequent guest, Mr.
George Masters. He responded to her knock and bid her
to come in. She opened the door, stepped inside, and
curtseyed.
Good morning, Jeanne, he said with pleasure. How
are you today? George Masters was thirty years old,
with wavy yellow hair, blue eyes, and a classic Greek
profile. He was a wealthy planter, and in the last six
months his stays at the Gayoso had become much more
frequent and of longer duration. He always looked at
Jeanne with admiration, she had seen, but he was never
forward or insinuating. He did talk to her, much like Mr.
Borden did, with particular cordiality though he didnt
ask personal questions. He seemed to be truly interested
in what she had to say.
I am doing very well, thank you, Mr. Masters, she
replied.
And are you looking forward to Christmas? he
asked. He was standing in front of the fireplace, his
hands behind his back. His tailoring was always elegant,
his frock coats perfectly fitted, his double-breasted
waistcoats of satin, with a fine gold watch chain sus-
pended from the pocket and hooking onto the middle
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GILBERT MORRIS
button. His hair was perfectly styled. Jeanne could not
imagine him allowing her into the room in such a coarse
state of undress as Cunningham had done.
Yes, sir, thank you, sir, she replied politely. She
picked up her bucket and started toward the bathroom.
Im glad to hear it, he said, and Jeanne stopped, put
her bucket down, and turned to face him. When a guest
wished to converse with you, you stopped what you
were doing until they were finished with you. He went
on, I came into town particularly for the Christmas
Regale. I was wondering if you were planning on attend-
ing?
This year, for the first time, the City of Memphis was
sponsoring a public Christmas fair. The playbills posted
all over the city promised a lavish party at Court Square
on Christmas Eve.
Yes, sir, I do plan to attend, Jeanne said with plea-
sure. It sounds like its going to be quite a fte.
One of his smooth eyebrows arched. Yes, a fte.
How do you knower, pardon me. Perhaps I may see
you there, Jeanne?
Perhaps, sir, she said evenly, and waited.
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but finally he
went to the armoire and pulled out a heavy dark blue
doublebreasted topcoat and a fine beaver top hat. If
youll excuse me, I have people waiting for me. There is
an envelope on the mantel, its for you. I hope you have
a good day. Ill see you in the morning, Jeanne.
She curtsied as he went out the door, and then hur-
ried to open the envelope. He had left her two dollars.
She smiled a little. He never handed her a tip; he always
left it for her. Jeanne marveled at his delicacy. Most of
the guestswho were males, of coursemade a show
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of tipping her, with the obvious expectation of grati-
tude, and sometimes more. George Masters had always
shown her unusual respect.
When she finished with George Masters room she
returned to Cunninghams. He was shaved and clothed,
to her relief. He gave her a dollar tip, and then tried to
envelope her in a hug. But Jeanne was not going to give
anyone a hug for a dollar, or even for a lot of dollars, and
she slipped away from him.
Each floor of the hotel had fifty rooms, and normally
all one hundred and fifty rooms were occupied. This
close to Christmas, however, the hotel had only eighty
rooms, and many of them were checking out today.
Twenty-two rooms had to be cleaned on the third floor,
and Jeanne had were two other maids working with her.
They interrupted her several times so that she could let
them into a room when the guest wasnt there. As far as
she knew, she was the only person that Mrs. Weidemann
ever gave a master key to. She did her seven rooms, and
the extra. She then checked all the other girls rooms
to make certain they were thoroughly cleaned. It was
about five oclock, and close to full dark, when she left
the Gayoso.
She carried her newspapers, her soaps, her pillow-
cases, and eight dollars and forty cents in cash. It took
her over seventeen days of work to earn that much
money. Thank you, Lord! She exulted to the bitter east
wind. Thank You for taking such good care of us!
Because of the Christmas season, the shops along
Main Street were staying open late, and the streets
were still busy. Men in heavy wool topcoats and tall
beaver hats, arm-in-arm with fur-clad women, mingled
with the rivermen, the clerks, the charwomen, the coal
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GILBERT MORRIS
scuttlers, the woodcutters, the couriers, the tradesmen,
all of the different kinds and shapes of people that made
up a relatively cosmopolitan city such as Memphis.
Jeanne was charmed by Main Street at Christmastime.
Every shop window was framed with holly and ever-
greens, and the lanterns cast an angelic golden glow over
the boardwalk. She would have liked to linger and look
at some of the shops that she could never go into, like
Madame Chasseurs Cosmetics and Perfumery, but she
was in a hurry to get home to Marvel. And it was still
harshly cold, though the wind had died down.
Quickly she made her way down Main to Andertons
Grocery and Butchery. The store was busy, with women
crowding around the fresh vegetables that Mr. Anderton
had just gotten in that very day. Jeanne looked at the
bins with a jaundiced eye. She disliked the most com-
mon winter vegetables, beets, collard greens, turnips,
and particularly Brussels sprouts. Her long mouth
twisted, she looked at the little round green balls and
thought how very good they would be for Marvel, but
she had never been able to bring herself to buy them,
she loathed them so. She didnt think she could take a
bite of a Brussels sprout, not even for Marvel. The kale
did look freshly green, and cabbage cooked with a ham
hock would be very good. Picking through the bundles
of kale carefully, she finally chose one that seemed full
and without blemish, and went up to the long coun-
ter, where Mr. and Mrs. Overton were busy waiting on
customers. Mrs. Overton finally looked up at her with
a flushed plump face and said, Oh, Mrs. Bettencourt, I
see you found the nice kale we got in today. Did you see
the Brussels sprouts?
Yes, maam, they look verygreen, Jeanne said
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politely. May I please have a quart of milk, and would
you happen to have any ham hocks at a good price this
evening?
Mrs. Overton frowned. Mm, Ill check for you, Mrs.
Bettencourt. We did this afternoon, but weve been
that busy all the day long . . . She bustled off toward
the butchered meats in the back. Jeanne leaned over to
look behind the counter, for there were two large bins
of the plumpest, reddest apples she had ever seen. Her
mouth watered. Mrs. Overton returned, still a-bustling,
holding a ham hock in brown paper and a glass quart
of milk. This is the smallest ham hock we have, Mrs.
Bettencourt, but it still has some good meat and fat to
it. That would be seven cents a pound, and this is about
two pounds.
Thats fine, Mrs. Overton, Ill take it. Those apples,
they are very fresh, arent they?
Oh, yes, fresh-picked in Pennsylvania, I understand,
and shipped downriver. We just got them today. I apolo-
gize, but we had to put them back here, people were
stealing them, and theyre a nickel apiece. Would you
like to come around and look at them?
No, thank you, maam, if you would
But suddenly the kind, warm Mrs. Overton turned
into a termagant. She leaned over to look behind Jeanne,
her face red with outrage. Here, you! Dye think Im
blind? Plain as plain I saw you poking holes in that there
cabbage! Yaint gittin no deals, neither! Plain as plain!
She turned back to Jeanne with a polite smile. You
were saying, Mrs. Bettencourt?
Id like for you to choose two of the best apples,
please, Mrs. Overton. And Id like a half-pound bag of
black tea, Jeanne said with amusement. The Overtons,
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GILBERT MORRIS
like most of her guests at the Gayoso, treated her with
respect, in spite of her lowly status. Jeanne knew it was
because of her upbringing, which had been unorthodox,
but her mother had been a gentlewoman and had taught
her well. J. B. Cunningham had been right about one
thing, at least. She really wasnt like a chambermaid.
Mrs. Overton obligingly put all of Jeannes purchases,
along with her newspapers and pillowcases and soaps,
into a roomy canvas bag. Ill return it tomorrow, Jeanne
promised.
Yes, I know, she said, beaming. And a very Merry
Christmas to you and your little one, Mrs. Bettencourt!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, maam, Jeanne
said. As she neared the door she saw a boy with his face
pressed close up to the glass, staring wistfully at the fresh
vegetable display. Jeanne felt a deep pang, as she always
did when she saw Roberty. But she smiled as he held the
door open for her. Hello, Roberty. I was hoping Id see
you tonight.
His thin dirty face brightened. You was? How come
was that?
It so happens that my stock of matches is very low,
I desperately need some kindling, and also I was hoping
that you might do me a very great favor, Jeanne said,
slowing her step to match his. He was a boy of about
ten, she thought, small and thin and hungry-looking.
There were dozens, maybe even hundreds, of boys like
him in Memphis.
I got matches, Mrs. Bettencourt, he said eagerly.
And I kept back a good bundle of wood for you, in
case. I hid it round the corner when I saw you going
into Andertons. He trotted down one of the dank lit-
tle alleys and came back with an armload of sticks and
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small branches. Ill do you a favor, maam, anything, you
just ask.
Well, you know the little Christmas tree you found
for me, she said, weve decorated it some, but I think
Id very much like to have some pine cones to use for
decorations. Do you think you could find any?
Oh, yes, maam! Theres a big stand of pines over on
Mud Island, and every morning they drop loads of cones.
Ill be there first thing of the morning, afore the other
wood monkeys get there, and get you the prettiest ones.
The boys who scavenged the scarce wood around the
city had come to be called wood monkeys. They practi-
cally knew where every tree in Memphis was located,
and no branch or pine cone hit the ground in winter
and stayed there for long. Each day the wood monkeys
ranged up and down the waterfront, picking up every
splinter lost from the endless line of carts hauling wood
to the hungry riverboats.
I got a surprise for you, too, Mrs. Bettencourt, he
said proudly. I got you some pretty good little sticks of
rich pine.
How wonderful! Jeanne said. One can never seem
to buy rich pine. And as it happens, today I have a little
extra money, and Id love to have every splinter of rich
pine you have. Youyou didnt steal it, did you?
No, maam, he said stoutly. I dont steal.
No, Im sorry, Roberty, I know you dont steal,
Jeanne said apologetically. Are you making it all right?
Thats a pretty hefty bundle you have there.
I dont know what hefty is, but it aint too heavy.
Gamely he struggled to match his stride with Jeannes
as they hurried north of town, to the district known as
The Pinch. Originally it had been called the Pinchgut
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GILBERT MORRIS
District, because of the gaunt and pinched faces of the
poor people, mostly Irish, who had settled there. It was
the poorest section of the town.
But Jeanne felt that she and Marvel had a fairly
good house, considering that they were indeed very
poor. It was a small clapboard shotgun house that was
only about ten years old. Shotgun houses were called
that because of the open middle hallway from front to
rear; you could shoot a shotgun through them. To keep
out the homeless drunks and thieves and other, worse
criminals, Jeanne and her neighbor, the ODwyers, had
put up stout bolted doors at each end of the house.
The ODwyers lived in the room on the right side and
Jeanne and Marvel on the left. The one thing that Jeanne
treasured most about the single room was that it had a
fireplace. That was why she had decided on renting the
house instead of living in a more convenient boarding-
house.
Finally they reached her home, and Jeanne dreaded the
next few minutes. She felt terribly guilty about Roberty.
She didnt know if he had any family, any parents, she
didnt even know if he had a home or if he was one of the
true orphans who camped out in the summer and slept
in a crowded church shelter on the coldest winter nights.
But what could she do? Just because he had adopted her,
that didnt mean that she could adopt him.
Jeanne opened the door and they went into the dark
hallway. From the ODwyers, loud voices sounded, argu-
ing about someones tobacco, and one of the children
was crying. The strong smell of onions pervaded the hall.
Roberty slipped past her, laid his bundle of wood down
at her door, then pulled some sticks out of his pocket.
Heres the rich pine, Mrs. Bettencourt. How many
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matches do you need?
How many do you have?
Bout a dozen left, I think, he said, groping in the
dark hallway.
Good, Ill take whatever you have. Now, I want you
to take this, Roberty, for the wood and the rich pine and
the matches. And for Merry Christmas, she said, hand-
ing him two quarters.
His dulled eyes grew round. Gosh! Thanks, Mrs.
Bettencourt! Merry Christmas to you too, and, and Ill
see you tomorrow with the pine cones! He turned and
ran out the door, pulling it securely shut behind him. He
always hurried away like that, as if he sensed Jeannes
turmoil over asking him into her home. With regret
Jeanne opened the door to her room and hurried to
bring in the wood and put all of her things away.
But somehow Marvel must have heard them, per-
haps when the door slammed, for the ODwyers door
opened and she came running out. Mama, youre home!
Why didnt you come get me? she cried, throwing her
arms around Jeannes legs.
Because I have a birthday surprise here for someone
and I was trying to hide it, Jeanne said, swooping down
to lift her up and kiss her. Youre going to have to go
stand in the corner and hide your eyes.
Thats silly, I havent been naughty, Marvel scoffed.
Ive been very good today.
Jeanne let her slide down to the floor, and Marvels
eyes grew big and round as she saw the bulging can-
vas bag on the worktable. Gunness! Are those all your
things, Mama?
They are mine and yours, Jeanne said, smiling.
Marvel always said gunness, not goodness. Now, if
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GILBERT MORRIS
youll let me get my breath, and get that fire going good,
Ill show you our treasures, and tell you about my excit-
ing adventures today.
Ill help you, Marvel said happily. With the fire, not
your breath.
Jeanne took off her cape and muffler and then care-
fully removed her mobcap. It looked clean, but of course
her apron got dirty in the course of a days work. She
threw it into a bucket of water with boracic acid in it,
for she had found that just soaking it overnight would
remove the stains without having to scrub. Smoothing
her hair, she put on a black wool shawl and went out
in the hallway to fetch a good-sized log for the fire.
She and the ODwyers split the cost of a cord of wood,
which ran about ten dollars.
Marvel stood at the fireplace with the poker, vigor-
ously stirring a good-sized bed of coals and carefully
placing small branches on it. The coal-glow lit her intent
face. Though she had inherited Jeannes large dark eyes,
she was rather a plain child, with a thin face and mousy
sandy-colored hair. Small for her age, her hands were
more like a four-year-olds than a six-year-olds. Her legs
and arms were skinny, and her neck seemed too small
for her head. It was not an evidence of malnourishment,
because Jeanne was vigilant about feeding her well.
Rather it was because she was frail and sickly. Marvel
had been born two months prematurely, and she had
never gained normal strength and health.
But she was a pleasing child, because she was bright
and alert and interested in everything, even things that
most children her age would find a dead bore. Jeanne was
alternately grateful and frustrated with her cleverness.
She was gratified when Marvel had started learning to
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read at five years old, and she had been frustrated when
Marvel had insisted she explain why the ODwyers had
six children and Jeanne only had one. Life with Marvel
was like that.
Jeanne came in to put the log on the fire. Did Mr.
ODwyer give us the coal starter?
Yes, maam, Angus got home early today and stoked
their fire up real good, and Mr. ODwyer brought a
shovelful of live coals over here just a little while ago,
she said.
Did you remember to thank him?
Yes, maam. I told you I was very good today.
Pardon me, I forgot, Jeanne said gravely. Now Im
going to put this soup on, and while its heating up well
take a look at my bag over there. She set up the iron
tripod and suspended a cast iron pot over the hottest
part of the fire. All last night she had simmered oxtails,
onions, and carrots over the slow fire. Now she added a
cupful of cooked rice for a good thick stew.
Lets go ahead and put our bed down, shall we?
Jeanne said. They had an iron bedstead with rusty
springs, but in winter they always put the mattress down
in front of the fire and sat wrapped up in wool blankets.
Most nights they read some, and then they talked while
Jeanne sewed. Tonight they got the canvas bag and set it
down between them.
First, though, before we see these wonderful things,
I want us to say a thank-you prayer, Jeanne said. Today
I had some generous guests that gave me tips. We have
to thank Mr. Borden, Mr. Masters, Mr. Cunningham, and
Mr. Davis.
Marvel nodded and bowed her head. Dear Lord
Jesus, thank you for Mr. Borden and Mr. Masters and Mr.
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GILBERT MORRIS
Cunningham and Mr. Davis. Thank you for the money
they gave Mama. Thank you for all the stuff in the bag.
Amen.
Jeanne began taking things out of the bag. Surprise!
Kale! Isnt that wonderful?
Mama, that bags got more things in it, Marvel said
reproachfully. Youre just joshin me.
Im sorry, I think youll like this better. Here is milk
and a ham hock, which I suppose are almost as amazing
as kale. But look at thisand this Jeanne pulled out
the muslin bag of tea, and the apples.
Marvels mouth made a small o. Those apples!
Theyre so, so red and shiny and fat! And, Mama is
that She snatched the bag from Jeannes hand and
lifted it to her nose and sniffed. It is! Its tea! You got us
some tea!
Mr. Borden got us some tea, Jeanne corrected her.
And these newspapers. Just look, Marvel, this one has
pictures.
Oh, Mama, could we please, please, have a cup of
tea? And we have milk and sugar! Couldnt we make
tea, and then read the newspapers while were having
tea? she pleaded.
Mm, I suppose we might, though Ill have to take
the stew off the fire, Jeanne said thoughtfully.
But just this once, to celebrate Mr. Borden and Mr.
and the other gentlemen may we have tea and bread
and cheese and apples for supper? Marvel said slyly.
Ah, to celebrate, Jeanne said. As a matter of fact,
that is just about what Mr. Borden told me hed like me
to do with the money he gave me. Yes, tonight we may
have tea instead of supper.
Oh, thank you, thank you! Marvel said. I just love
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tea, and I know its so spensive we cant hardly ever buy
it.
We can hardly ever buy it, Jeanne corrected her.
We can hardly ever buy it, Marvel echoed. Mr.
Borden must be nice. You like him, dont you, Mama?
Hm? Oh. Its not a question of whether I like him
or not, Marvel, Jeanne explained. In a way, I work for
him. He is a generous man, and I am grateful to him.
Marvel frowned. I thought you liked him, because
when you talk about him you sound okay. But when you
talk about the others you sound funny, like you dont
like them.
What? No, no, Marvel, its not that I dislike them. Its
just notthe situationits one of those things about
adults that you cant understand yet, Jeanne struggled
to explain.
Maybe. But I know you dont like men very much,
Mama. Cept for Mr. ODwyer, I guess, and maybe Pastor
Beecham. I just dont understand why.
Jeanne blinked several times. She didnt actively dis-
like all men, of course. But she didnt trust them. She
treated them with courtesy, but with cool, distant cour-
tesy. She found it troublesome that Marvel had noticed
anything peculiar. In Jeannes mind, she was equally
polite to everyone. How could Marvel have recognized
any difference in her attitude toward men? Perhaps it
was simply that Marvel was overly sensitive because she
had no father.
Jeanne reached over and hugged Marvel. It is hard
for you to understand things about grown-up men and
women, little girl. Just dont worry. Because I love you
so much, so very much, and I promise Ill protect you
and keep you safe.
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GILBERT MORRIS
Marvel buried her face in Jeannes shoulder. I know
youll take care of me, Mama. Ive always known. I love
you, too.