Alexis, of course. He had forgotten. Aaron had provided his own servants for them too. Joseph, suddenly swept with unreasonable anger, threw open the cabin door, and shouted in a voice that was an insult, 'Alexis!'

The negro came running. 'Yes, sir. Yes, sir.'

'I want negus. And be quick about it, damn you.'

Alexis bowed with dignity, resentment in every line of his stiff body. Aaron treated his servants with invariable kindness and courtesy. The negro did not like Mr. Alston, but he saw that the bridegroom was unhappy. He felt a trifle sorry for him, but a whole lot sorrier for Miss Theo. She'd got herself a dull-headed, ill-tempered bull of a husband for fair: him and his passel of Gullah niggers with their singsong jabber and their heathen charms.

He came back in a few minutes bearing a steaming bowl of negus, fragrant with lemon peel, port wine, and nutmeg. Miss Theo was sitting in one of the chairs, her chin on her hand, mooning over the Christmas roses Colonel Burr had combed Albany to find. Mr. Alston was leaning against the far wall, frowning at the carpet. Neither looked up when Alexis came in, so he placed the bowl of negus beside two china cups on the wooden bench, and bowing disappeared.

Joseph ladled out the smoking-hot liquid. 'You will join me,' he ordered sharply. 'We must drink a toast to our marriage.'

'Certainly'. She accepted the cup, touched her lips to it. Joseph gulped his, poured himself another, and another.

This isn't real, Theo thought. Soon I shall waken and I will find myself in my white bedroom at Richmond Hill. Father will be up and dressed already, down in the library writing. He will be a little cross with me for being late to breakfast, and he will tease me by forbidding me another cup of tea. But after breakfast we will walk out onto the porch together; the air will be crisp and sparkling; Minerva will be waiting for me, whinnying at the hitching-post. Our pond will be thinly iced, with new pussy-willows around its margin, and behind I shall see the Hudson.

My beautiful river! But I'm on the Hudson now! The realization came with shock, yet it brought comfort. Her rivet that she loved cradled her now on its mighty waters: waters that flowed relentlessly on like Time that could not be checked or diverted.