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He did not inquire after Meg, or ask why my wife had permitted me to travel all this way by myself He did not ask about Alice or Amelia

I thought of Mahters in this house It was alway

s too quiet in here I remembered one of her favorite expressions: “The silence in here is so loud, I can heararound in my ribs”

Judge Corbett looked e?” he asked

“I’ here,” I said “I’ve taken a room down at Maybelle Wilson’s Actually, I’overnment I have to check out some candidates for the federal courts”

I could have sworn this news h

“Fine,” he said “Be about your business Maybelle’s should suit you perfectly Is there so else?”

I saw no reason to prolong this agony “Oh, no Nothing It was pleasant to see you again”

He waved for Dabney to ladle more soup into his bowl He dabbed at his lips with a starched linen napkin Then he deigned to speak

“We should arrange another visit sometime,” my father said “Perhaps in another six years”

Chapter 25

“YOU NEED SOMETHING for your belly, Mr Corbett?” May-belle called in a loud voice fro house

I had found the Slide Inn Café all closed up for the night, but still I declined Maybelle’s invitation “No, thank you, ma’am I’m all taken care of”

“Just as well Ain’t nothin’ in there but some old pone”

Maybelle’s had never been known for luxury In fact, the only thing the place was ever known for was a string of slightly disreputable boarders through the years Now, I supposed, I was one of them