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dazzling light of the almost daily discoveries of the time； in search of mental ammunition to fire back at curious students daily bombarding you with puzzling questions； or had you been a thrifty capitalist； holding back a first payment until an expert like Richard Horn had passed upon the merits of some new labor…saving device of the day； had you been any one of these； and you might very easily have been； for such persons came almost daily to see him； the inventor would not only have listened to your wants； no matter how absorbed he might have been in his own work； but he would not have allowed you to leave him until he was sure that your mind was at rest。
Had you； however； been neither friend nor client； but some unbeliever fresh from the gossip of the Club； where many of the habitues not only laughed at the inventor's predictions for the future； but often lost their tempers in discussing his revolutionary ideas； or had you； in a spirit of temerity； entered his room armed with arguments for his overthrow； nothing that your good…breeding or the lack of it would have permitted you to have said could have ruffled his gentle spirit。 With the tact of a man of wide experience among men； he would have turned the talk into another channelmusic； perhaps； or some topic of the dayand all with such exquisite grace that you would have forgotten the subject you came to discuss until you found yourself outside the yard and half… way across Kennedy Square before realizing that the inventor had made no reply to your attacks。
But whoever you might have been； whether the friend of years； the anxious client； or the trifling unbeliever； and whatever the purpose of your visit； whether to shake his hand again for the very delight of touching it； to seek advice； or to combat his theories； you would have carried away the impression of a man whose like you had never met beforea man who spoke in a low； gentle voice； and yet； with an authority that compelled attention； enthusiastic over the things he loved； silent over those that pained him； a scholar of wide learning； yet skilled in the use of tools that obeyed him as readily as nimble fingers do a hand； a philosopher eminently sane on most of the accepted theories of the day and yet equally insistent in his support of many of the supposed sophistries and so…called 〃fanaticisms of the hour〃； an old…time aristocrat holding fast to the class distinctions of his ancestors and yet glorying in the dignity of personal labor； a patriot loyal to the traditions of his State and yet so opposed to the bondage of men and women that he had freed his own slaves the day his father's will was read； a cavalier reverencing a woman as sweetheart； wife； and mother； and yet longing for the time to come when she； too； could make a career； then denied her； coequal in its dignity with that of the man beside her。
A composite personality of strange contradictions； of pronounced accomplishments and yet of equally pronounced failures。 And yet； withal； a man so gracious in speech； so courtly in bearing； so helpful in counsel； so rational； human； and lovable； that agree with him or not； as you pleased； his vision would have lingered with you for days。
When night came the inventor would rake the coals from the forge； and laying aside his paper cap and calico gown； close the green door of his shop； cross the brick pavement of the back yard； and ascend the stairs with the spindling bannisters to his dressing room。 Here Malachi would have laid out the black swallow…tail coat with the high velvet collar； trousers to match； double…breasted waistcoat with gilt buttons； and fluffy cravat of white silk。
Then； while his master was dressing； the old servant would slip down…stairs and begin arranging the several rooms for the evening's guestsfor there were always guests at night。 The red damask curtains would be drawn close； the hearth swept clean； and fresh logs thrown on the andirons。 The lamp in the library would be lighted； and his master's great easy… chair wheeled close to a low table piled high with papers and magazines； his big…eyed reading…glasses within reach of his hand。 The paper would be unfolded； aired at the snapping blaze； and hung over the arm of the chair。 These duties attended to； the old servant； with a last satisfied glance about the room； would betake himself to the foot of the stair… case； there to await his master's coming； glancing overhead at every sound； and ready to conduct him to his chair by the fire。
When Richard； his toilet completed； appeared at the top of the stairs； Malachi would stand until his master had reached the bottom step； wheel about； and； with head up； gravely and noiselessly precede him into the drawing…roomthe only time he ever dared to walk before himand with a wave of the hand and the air of a prince presenting one of his palaces； would say〃Yo' char's all ready； Marse Richard； bright fire burnin'。〃 Adding； with a low； sweeping bow； now that the ceremony was over 〃Hope yo're feelin' fine dis evenin'； sah。〃
He had said it hundreds of times in the course of the year； but always with a salutation that was a special tribute； and always with the same low bow； as he gravely pulled out the chair； puffing up the back cushion； his wrinkled hands resting on it until Richard had taken his seat。 Then； with equal gravity； he would hand his master the evening paper and the big…bowed spectacles； and would stand gravely by until Richard had dismissed him with a gentle 〃Thank you； Malachi； that will do。〃 And Malachi； with the serene； uplifted face as of one who had served in a temple； would tiptoe out to his pantry。
It had gone on for yearsthis waiting for Richard at the foot of the staircase。 Malachi had never missed a night when his master was at home。 It was not his dutynot a part of the established regime of the old house。 No other family servant about Kennedy Square performed a like service for master or mistress。 It was not even a custom of the times。
It was only one of 〃Malachi's ways；〃 Richard would say； with a gentle smile quivering about his lips。
〃I do dat 'cause it's Marse Richarddat's all；〃 Malachi would answer； drawing himself up with the dignity of a chamberlain serving a king； when someone had the audacity to question hima liberty he always resented。
They had been boys togetherthese two。 They had fished and hunted and robbed birds' nests and gone swimming with each other。 They had fought for each other； and been whipped for each other many and many a time in the old plantation…days。 Night after night in the years that followed they had sat by each other when one or the other was ill。
And now that each was an old man the mutual service was still continued。
〃How are you getting on now； Malachibetter？ Ah； that's good〃 and the master's thin white hand would be laid on the black wrinkled head with a soothing touch。
〃Allus feels better； Marse Richard； when I kin git hold ob yo' han'； sah〃 Malachi would answer。
Not his slave； remember。 Not so many pounds of human flesh and bone and brains condemned to his service for life； for Malachi was free to come and go and had been so privileged since the day the old Horn estate had been settled twenty ye