There still remained what was the most interesting part to the audience—­taking leave of the corpse—­and for a few minutes the sobs, and cries, and ejaculations were bewildering to Mr. Mason, who had never had an experience of this kind.  Jake quieted the tumult as soon as possible, reminding the people again that this was a first-class ’Piscopal funeral, such as the quality had in Virginny.  The old grandmother was led to the coffin by Mandy Ann, who shook her up and told her to look at Miss Dory, but not cry much, if she could help it.  She didn’t cry at all, but nearly every one did in the adjoining room, where they said to each other, “Ole Miss is takin’ leave and don’t sense it an atom.”  The little girl was held up by Jake, who made her kiss her mother.

“Mamma’s s’eep,” the child said, as she kissed the pale lips which would never smile on her again.

There was a fresh outburst of sobs and tears from the spectators, and then the coffin was closed, and the procession took its way across the hot sands to the little enclosure in the clearing, where other members of the Harris family were buried.  Remembering the impatience of the people in the house, Mr. Mason wished to shorten the service at the grave, but Jake said:  “No.  We’ll have the whole figger for Miss Dory.”  Mr. Mason went the whole figure with uncovered head under the broiling sun, and when he was through he felt as if his brains were baked.  The Crackers did not seem to mind the heat at all.  They were accustomed to it, and after their return from the grave, stayed round until the white mule and sail-topped shay were brought up for Mr. Mason’s return to the hotel.

As Jake was very busy, a young negro boy was sent in his place.  Naturally loquacious, he kept up a constant stream of talk, but as he stammered frightfully the most Mr. Mason could understand was that Miss Dory was a dandy, ole Miss ’onery, whatever that might mean, and Jake a big head, who thought he knew everything because he was free and could read.

The next day was Sunday, and Mr. Mason took for the subject of his remarks in the parlor of the hotel the story of Lazarus and Dives, and every time he spoke of Dives receiving his good things in life, he thought of the man whom the landlord had designated a “Northern cuss”; and every time he spoke of Lazarus, he thought of poor little Dory and that humble grave in the sands of the palmetto clearing.

It was covered before night with young dwarf palmettoes, which Mandy Ann laid upon it with a thought that they would keep her young mistress cool.  All through the day she had restrained her feelings, because Jake told her that was the way to do.