No, answered Mary, quite indignantly. I never did in my life. My
Ayah dressed me, of course.
Well, said Martha, evidently not in the least aware that she was
impudent, it s time tha should learn. Tha cannot begin younger.
It ll do thee good to wait on thysen a bit. My mother always said she
couldn t see why grand people s children didn t turn out fair
fools what with nurses an bein washed an dressed an took out to
walk as if they was puppies!
It is different in India, said Mistress Mary disdainfully. She could
scarcely stand this.
But Martha was not at all crushed.
Eh! I can see it s different, she answered almost sympathetically. I
dare say it s because there s such a lot o blacks there instead o
respectable white people. When I heard you was comin from India I
thought you was a black too.
Mary sat up in bed furious.
What! she said. What! You thought I was a native. You you daughter
of a pig!
Martha stared and looked hot.
Who are you callin names? she said. You needn t be so vexed. That s
not th way for a young lady to talk. I ve nothin against th blacks.
When you read about em in tracts they re always very religious. You
always read as a black s a man an a brother. I ve never seen a black
an I was fair pleased to think I was goin to see one close. When I
come in to light your fire this mornin I crep up to your bed an
pulled th cover back careful to look at you. An there you was,
disappointedly, no more black than me for all you re so yeller.
Mary did not even try to control her rage and humiliation.
You thought I was a native! You dared! You don t know anything about
natives! They are not people they re servants who must salaam to you.
21