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He's gone out to see a patient； suh； but he'll be back soon。 Won't you set
down in de private office an' wait fer 'im； suh？〃
Tryon had not slept well during his journey； and felt somewhat
fatigued。 Through the open door of the next room he saw an inviting
armchair； with a window at one side； and upon the other a table strewn
with papers and magazines。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃I'll wait。〃
He entered the private office； sank into the armchair； and looked out of
the window upon the square below。 The view was mildly interesting。
The old brick market…house with the tower was quite picturesque。 On a
wagon…scale at one end the public weighmaster was weighing a load of
hay。 In the booths under the wide arches several old negro women were
frying fish on little charcoal stoves the odor would have been appetizing
to one who had not breakfasted。 On the shady side stood half a dozen
two…wheeled carts； loaded with lightwood and drawn by diminutive steers；
or superannuated army mules branded on the flank with the cabalistic
letters 〃C。 S。 A。；〃 which represented a vanished dream； or 〃U。 S。 A。；〃
which； as any negro about the market…house would have borne witness；
signified a very concrete fact。 Now and then a lady or gentleman passed
with leisurely stepno one ever hurried in Patesvilleor some poor white
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sandhiller slouched listlessly along toward store or bar…room。
Tryon mechanically counted the slabs of gingerbread on the nearest
market…stall； and calculated the cubical contents of several of the meagre
loads of wood。 Having exhausted the view； he turned to the table at his
elbow and picked up a medical journal； in which he read first an account
of a marvelous surgical operation。 Turning the leaves idly； he came upon
an article by a Southern writer； upon the perennial race problem that has
vexed the country for a century。 The writer maintained that owing to a
special tendency of the negro blood； however diluted； to revert to the
African type； any future amalgamation of the white and black races； which
foolish and wicked Northern negrophiles predicted as the ultimate result of
the new conditions confronting the South； would therefore be an
ethnological impossibility； for the smallest trace of negro blood would
inevitably drag down the superior race to the level of the inferior； and
reduce the fair Southland； already devastated by the hand of the invader； to
the frightful level of Hayti； the awful example of negro incapacity。 To
forefend their beloved land； now doubly sanctified by the blood of her
devoted sons who had fallen in the struggle to maintain her liberties and
preserve her property； it behooved every true Southron to stand firm
against the abhorrent tide of radicalism； to maintain the supremacy and
purity of his all… pervading； all…conquering race； and to resist by every
available means the threatened domination of an inferior and degraded
people； who were set to rule hereditary freemen ere they had themselves
scarce ceased to be slaves。
When Tryon had finished the article； which seemed to him a well…
considered argument； albeit a trifle bombastic； he threw the book upon the
table。 Finding the armchair wonderfully comfortable； and feeling the
fatigue of his journey； he yielded to a drowsy impulse； leaned his head on
the cushioned back of the chair； and fell asleep。 According to the habit of
youth； he dreamed； and pursuant to his own individual habit； he dreamed
of Rena。 They were walking in the moonlight； along the quiet road in
front of her brother's house。 The air was redolent with the perfume of
flowers。 His arm was around her waist。 He had asked her if she loved
him； and was awaiting her answer in tremulous but confident expectation。
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She opened her lips to speak。 The sound that came from them seemed to
be：
〃Is Dr。 Green in？ No？ Ask him； when he comes back； please； to
call at our house as soon as he can。〃
Tryon was in that state of somnolence in which one may dream and
yet be aware that one is dreaming；the state where one； during a dream；
dreams that one pinches one's self to be sure that one is not dreaming。
He was therefore aware of a ringing quality about the words he had just
heard that did not comport with the shadowy converse of a dreaman
incongruity in the remark； too； which marred the harmony of the vision。
The shock was sufficient to disturb Tryon's slumber； and he struggled
slowly back to consciousness。 When fully awake； he thought he heard a
light footfall descending the stairs。
〃Was there some one here？〃 he inquired of the attendant in the outer
office； who was visible through the open door。
〃Yas； suh；〃 replied the boy； 〃a young cullud 'oman wuz in jes' now；
axin' fer de doctuh。〃
Tryon felt a momentary touch of annoyance that a negro woman
should have intruded herself into his dream at its most interesting point。
Nevertheless； the voice had been so real； his imagination had reproduced
with such exactness the dulcet tones so dear to him； that he turned his head
involuntarily and looked out of the window。 He could just see the flutter
of a woman's skirt disappearing around the corner。
A moment later the doctor came bustling in； a plump； rosy man of
fifty or more； with a frank； open countenance and an air of genial good
nature。 Such a doctor； Tryon fancied； ought to enjoy a wide popularity。
His mere presence would suggest life and hope and healthfulness。
〃My dear boy；〃 exclaimed the doctor cordially； after Tryon had
introduced himself； 〃I'm delighted to meet youor any one of the old
blood。 Your mother and I were sweethearts； long ago； when we both
wore pinafores； and went to see our grandfather at Christmas； and I met
her more than once； and paid her more