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but would walk； on with the dignity in him and be silent
73
A few nights ago a drunken white man had come up to him
and begun pulling him along the street。 He had his bag with
him and he was sure someone was hurt。 But the drunkard had
pulled him into a white man's restaurant and the white men at
the counter had begun hollering out with their insolence。 He
knew that the drunkard was making fun of him。 Even then he
had kept the dignity in him。
But with this tall； thin white man with the gray…green eyes
something had happened that had never happened to him with
any white man before。
It came about on a dark； rainy night several weeks ago。 He had
just come from a maternity case and was standing in the rain
on a corner。 He had tried to light a cigarette and one by one
the matches in his box fizzled out。 He had been standing with
the unlighted cigarette in his mouth when the white man
stepped up and held for him a lighted match。 In the dark with
the flame between them they could see each other's faces。 The
white man smiled at him and lighted for him his cigarette。 He
did not know what to say； for nothing like that had ever
happened to him before。
They had stood for a few minutes on the street corner
together； and then the white man had handed him his card。 He
wanted to talk to the white man and ask him some questions；
but he did not know for sure if he could really understand。
Because of the insolence of all the white race he was afraid to
lose his dignity in friendliness。
But the white man had lighted his cigarette and smiled and
seemed to want to be with him。 Since then he had thought this
over many times。
'I have a deaf…mute patient；' said Doctor Copeland to Portia。
The patient is a boy five years of age。 And somehow I cannot
get over the feeling that I am to blame for bis handicap。 I
delivered him； and after two post…delivery visits of course I
forgot about him。 He developed ear trouble； but the mother
paid no attention to the discharges from his ears and did not
bring him to me。 When it was finally brought to my attention
it was too late。 Of course he hears nothing and of course he
therefore cannot speak。 But I have watched him carefully； and
it seems to me that if he were normal he would be a very
intelligent child。' 'You always had a great interest in little
children；' said74
Portia。 'You care a heap more about them than about grown
peoples； don't you？'
〃There is more hope in the young child；' said Doctor
Copeland。 'But this deaf boy—I have been meaning to。 make
inquiries and find if there is some institution that would take
him。'
'Mr。 Singer would tell you。 He a truly kind white man and he
not a bit biggity。'
'I do not know' said Doctor Copeland。 'I have
thought once or twice about writing him a note and seeing if
he could give me information。'
'Sure I would if I was you。 You a grand letter…writer and I
would give it to Mr。 Singer for you；' said Portia。 'He come
down in the kitchen two…three weeks ago with a few shirts he
wanted me to rinch out for him。 Them shirts were no more
dirty than if Saint John the Baptist hisself had been wearing
them。 All I had to do were dip them in warm water and give
the collars a small rub and press them。 But that night when I
taken them five clean shirts up to his room you know how
much he give me？'
'No。'
'He smile like he always do and hand over to me a dollar。 A
whole dollar just for them little shirts。 He one really kind and
pleasant white man and I wouldn't be afraid to ask him any
question。 I wouldn't even mind writing that nice white man a
letter myself。 You go right ahead and do it； Father； if you
wants to。'
'Perhaps I will；' said Doctor Copeland。
Portia sat up suddenly and began arranging her tight； oily hair。
There was the faint sound of a harmonica and then gradually
the music grew louder。 'Here come Willie and Highboy；'
Portia said。 'I got to go out now and meet them。 You take care
of yourself now； and send me a word if you needs me for
anything。 I did enjoy the supper with you and the talking very
much。'
The music from the harmonica was very clear now； and they
could tell that Willie was playing while he waited at the front
gate。
'Wait a minute；' said Doctor Copeland。 'I have only seen your
husband with you about two times and I believe we have never
really met each other。 And it has been
75
three years since William has visited his father。 Why not tell
them to drop in for a little while？'
Portia stood in the doorway； fingering her hair and her
earrings。
'Last time Willie come in here you hurted his feelings。 You
see you don't understand just how'
'Very well；' said Doctor Copeland。 'it was only a suggestion。'
'Wait；' said Portia。 'I going to call them。 I going to invite them
in right now。'
Doctor Copeland lighted a cigarette and walked up and down
the room。 He could not straighten his glasses to just the right
position and his fingers kept trembling。 From the front yard
there was the sound of low voices。 Then heavy footsteps were
in the hall and Portia； William； and Highboy entered the
kitchen。
'Here we is；' said Portia。 'Highboy； I don't believe you and my
Father has ever truly been introduced to each other。 But you
knows who each other is。'
Doctor Copeland shook hands with both of them。 Willie hung
back shyly against the wall； but Highboy stepped forward and
bowed formally。 'I has always heard so much about you；' he
said。 'I be very pleased to make your acquaintance。'
Portia and Doctor Copeland brought in chairs from the hall
and the four of them sat around the stove。 They were silent
and uneasy。 Willie gazed nervously around the room —at the
books on the kitchen table； the sink； the cot against the wall；
and at his father。 Highboy grinned and picked at his tie。
Doctor Copeland seemed about to speak； and then he wet his
lips and was still silent。
'Willie； you were going pretty good with your harp；' said
Portia finally。 'Look to me like you and Highboy must of got
into somebody's gin bottle。'
'No； ma'am；' said Highboy very politely。 'Us haven't had
anything since Saturday。 Us have just been enjoying our
horseshoe game。'
Doctor Copeland still did not speak； and they all kept glancing
at him and waiting。 The room was close and the quietness
made everyone nervous。
'I do haves the hardest time with them boys' clothes；'76
Portia said。 'I washes both of them white suits ever Saturday
and I presses them twice a week。 And look at them now。
Course they don't wear them except when they gets home
from work。 But after two days they seems to be potty black。 I
ironed them pants just last night and now there not a crease
left。'
Still Doctor Copeland was silent。 He kept his eyes on his son's
face； but when Willie noticed this he bit his rough； blunt
fingers and stared at his feet。 Doctor Copeland felt his pulse
hammering at his wrists and temples。 He coughed and held his
fist to his chest。 He wanted to speak to his son； but he could
think of nothing to say。 The old bitterness came up in him and
he did not have t