In the soft candlelight, Miss Burden looks no more than thirty years old. Christmas will later learn that she is forty-one. They rarely speak, even after they become lovers, and so it is sometime before Christmas even learns that much. For a year, while he works at the planing mill, they rarely see each other by day. Every Saturday, she lays out a meal for him in the kitchen, but usually he is left to eat it alone. Over time, Christmas learns more about her. She corresponds frequently with various negro schools, and occasionally takes business trips to speak to the teachers and students. When Christmas learns of her commerce with negroes, he understands why the town ignores her, and realizes that he will likely not be bothered here at the Burden place......
