veranda roof, he could not see, but, his ears being quick to note sounds above the rush of the waters, he heard
Joe and Martha talking on the veranda. Presently he came up the veranda steps. He was the caretaker, and his
door of entrance and exit was in the basement, under the veranda. He was a tall old colored man with an
important mien.
When his head appeared above the veranda floor Joe and Martha rose. "Good day, Sam," they said almost in
concert.
Sam bowed with dignity. "I 'lowed it was you," he said, then sat down on a fixed stone bench near the chairs.
"So they've gone," said Joe, as he and Martha resumed their seats.
"Yassir. Mr. Richard is kind of pindlin', and the Dr. 'lowed he'd better get away. They went day before
yesterday, and all the help last night."
Joe nodded. Martha nodded. They all sat still, watching the waves dash at the sea wall and break over it.
"They had ought to have looked at that wall," said Joe, presently.
The colored man laughed with the optimism of his race. "That wall has held more'n twenty year -- eber since
the house was built," said he. "Wall all right."
"Dunno'," said Joe.
Martha was not as optimistic as the colored man, but she was entirely happy. "Seems sorter nice to be settin'
here ag'in, Sam," said she.
"Yes'm," said Sam.
"We've got a baked fish for dinner, and some fresh beans," said Martha. "We thought you'd come and have
dinner with us, the way you always do the first day."
"I 'lowed you'd ask me, thank ye, marm," said Sam, with his wonderful dignity.
"Seems nice to be settin' here ag'in," repeated Martha, like a bird with one note.
"Yes'm." Sam's own face wore a pleased expression. He, too, felt the charm of possession. All three, the man
and wife and the colored retainer, realized divine property rights. The outside of that grand house was as much
theirs as it was any soul's on the face of the earth. They owned that and the ocean. Only Joe's face was now
and then disturbed when a wave, crested in foam, came over the sea wall. He knew the sea well enough to
love and fear it, while he owned it.
The three sat there all the morning. Then they all went away to the little Dickson house. The thunder was
rumbling in the northwest. They walked rapidly. Joe spread the umbrella, but no rain came. There was a sharp
flash of lightning and a prodigious report. All three turned about and looked in the direction of the Willard
house.
"Struck somewheres, but it didn't strike thar," said Joe.
When they reached home Martha immediately changed her dress and set about preparing dinner. The two men
sat on Joe's upturned boat, on the sloping beach opposite, and smoked and watched the storm. It did not rain
for a long time, although the thunder and lightning were terrific. The colored man cringed at the detonations