thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
she hadn't used it in awhile.She cleared her throat and said, Oh, darling, youre getting sotall. I think youll be taller than your father before youredone growing.I might be,Mother, Henry said to be agreeable. He had no real opinion on thematter. He would or wouldnt be.You dont takeafter my people in that regard, she continued, but you seem aWilton in all other respects.Father looked upfrom his plate and fixed her with a steady stare, waiting to seewhere she was going with this line of talk.Wilton men arealways so handsome, so graceful, and such good dancers, too. Youremind me so much of Reggie, darling, she said. Do you rememberyour Uncle Reggie?Henry did indeed. InReggies presence, Mother had been another person entirely, avivacious creature with flashing eyes and a sense of humor. Thesiblings had been close all their lives, and only Reggie had everseemed able to lift her melancholy, but Reggie left abruptly whenHenry was just 7, plunging Mother back into a black depression fromwhich she had never really emerged again. Henry understood thatReggie had been living outside the United States all thistimeFrance, perhaps, or Greece? It had always been hurtful thatReggie had simply left without saying goodbye, and that he had neverwritten to Henry, not even so much as a postcard.Of course I do,Henry assured her. I loved Uncle Reggie. He darted a quickglance at Father to see how he would react to this; Fathers gazedid not waver from Mothers face, so Henry felt emboldened to add,Ive missed him. Do you ever hear from him at all?Mother gave him agrateful and loving smile; it transformed her into a marvelousstranger. I do, darling. Ive just had word, in fact. Hell bewith us at Christmas!Father coughed andseemed to be choking; Timothy stepped forward and bent to confer withhim, but bowed away gracefully as Father got his breathing undercontrol.Whats he doingback in the country, Louisa? Fathers voice was sharp,suspicious. Why is he here?Well, you knowhis friend died, that Mr. Ellsworth, and now theres nothingkeeping him in Italy. He thought hed come home at long last.He has everythinghe needs in Italy, Father said. Hes provided for handsomely.What will he do for money here, do you think?Oh, Hiram, cantwe discuss this later? Surely something can be worked out! Ivemissed him so, and I know hes missed me. He was gone for all ofHenrys growing up, and he loved Henry so dearly! Hes never evenmet Cora!This was the mostHenry had heard out of his mother in ages. Just the fact of herspeaking at length like this was remarkable, but the actual news shehad to impart was exciting, too. Uncle Reggie!Father frowned athis plate. You know I dont care for Reggie. I dont want mychildren influenced by his example.Reggie isn'tharming anyone, Hiram. He's only trying to be happy. She put downher fork and let her hand fall heavily to her lap. Besides, Henryis nearly grown, Hiram, and entirely under your influence. Ifhes not turning out as youd like, youve no one to blame butyourself.Henry froze,horrified by her words. He knew he wasnt turning out as Fatherwanted. He looked down at
his napkin in his lap and felt his facegrow hot with crimson shame.Youre makingthe boy uncomfortable with this talk, Father said gruffly. Hesturning out fine.Fine. Thatwasnt a positive assessment, per se, but it wasntovertly negative, at least.Say youll talkto Reggie, Mother urged. Hear him out. He just wants to comehome, Hiram.Father made anoncommittal grunt.The family hour wastense, all members of the group sullen and feeling wronged by theothers. Mother sighed and fretted with the edges of her shawl, herdramatic exhalations interrupting Pearls reading. BestIntentions ended with a wedding, of course, and Henry was not atall surprised. Hed guessed thered be a wedding from the firstpage.Paying only thebarest mind to the story, Henry considered the return of his UncleReggie. It was exciting news, to be sure, but upsetting, as well.Nine years without a word! Would he even remember Henry? Would heeven care how much Henry had missed him?In the bedroom,conflicted and emotional, he grabbed Martin and pushed him down onthe bed, half-undressed. He fucked him from behind, pounding hard,almost frenzied, and then put him on his back and fucked himface-to-face, now more slowly and looking into his beautiful, calmeyes. He felt like he might cry, and Martin was ever-so-tender withhim, kissing him and stroking his hair as they moved together.Afterward, he lay with his head on Martins chest while Martinpetted his hair.Henry, youveonly ever told me a little about your Uncle Reggie. Why dont youtell me what youre thinking now?I dont reallyknow what to say. I loved him a lot. I know my father never likedhim. Reggie was always different than other people, and I loved thatabout him. Now that Im older, Im quite positive hes somesort of fairy and obviously Father disapproved of him on thataccount. But Father didnt have to put up with him for very long.Ive told you he left when I was just little. He never even saidgoodbye.Why do you thinkhes a fairy?Oh, all sorts ofreasons. Like, certain mannerisms he had...he didnt behave like awoman, by any means, but he didnt act like other men, either. Hewas very charming, of course, and hes a Wilton, so he was veryhandsome, and he wore the most beautiful clothes. You also have toconsider the kinds of things he was interested in, and the kinds ofthings he wasnt interested in. He was so kind and lovingand unashamed of it. He loved wine and hated cigars. He loved art andmusic and dancing. He always brought beautiful flowers when hevisited. He loved women, but not romantically. He loved theirclothes, and their hair, and their manners, but he never had asweetheart, and apparently girls were crazy about him. He doted onhis slave. He had a lot of gentlemen friends who were sensitivetypes. I didnt see all this myself, of course; I was only a child.Some of this I picked up from hearing Pearl and my mother talking.He soundslovely.He was, Henryagreed.You missed him alot, didnt you? Martin kissed the top of his head.He paid moreattention to me than any of the other adults, so I definitely noticedwhen he stopped coming. Mother seemed to just give up entirely
afterhe was gone. They were always very close, you see.Your poormother. Martin had a great deal more empathy for Mother than Henrydid. Poor you, Henry. Poor little boy. He smoothed Henryshair back from his forehead. Its good then, isnt it, thatyoull have a chance to talk with him again at Christmas?Im feeling abit angry with him, actually, Henry admitted. Not a singleletter in nine years.Im sure he hadhis reasons, Henry. Try not to judge him too harshly before youvehad a chance to talk with him.When Henry was veryyoung, the entire house had been decorated for Christmas, but sincethere would be no guests to see the festive display, only the familyrooms were decorated nowadays. There was a Christmas tree set up inthe upstairs parlor festooned with garlands of glass baubles. Fatherhad got an electrician in to put electric bulbs on it, and theyreflected off of the tinsel to spangle the room with lozenges oflight.When the familygathered after dinner on Christmas Eve, Cora was brought down fromthe nursery to open her presents. She brought the bedraggled andcracked Baby Ann with her so that the doll might renew heracquaintance with Martin and, to a lesser extent, Henry. Father andMother seemed slightly unbelieving that this broken and grubby babywas Coras very favorite, exhibiting a sort of baffled cordialityas Cora made the introductions. Coras presents were the same everyyear, it seemed: she would get a new doll, a new tea set, and a newdress shed be expected to wear to the Christmas gathering on themorrow. She did not seem to mind the invariability of her gifts, andsat on the floor at Henrys feet and played happily with the newdoll, making it drink pretend tea and pay tribute to Baby Ann.Henry, you bethis new girl, Cora said, shoving the new doll at him.Henry took the dollgingerly. She had black ringlets, huge blue eyes, a fussy pink silkdress. Whats her name?Cora thought amoment. Brindle.Really? Henrywasnt sure, but he thought that was an animal color.Yes, Brindle,Cora said firmly. She arranged Baby Ann on her back on the floor and,in a high-pitched, slightly spooky voice, said, Brindle, I needyour help.Henry had nevertried to imitate a female voice in all his life thus far, and he wasnot any good at it now, this first time. What is it, Ann?Baby Ann,Cora insisted.Henry cleared histhroat and tried again. What is it, Baby Ann? How can I help you?Bring me sometea, Brindle.Henry had to getdown on the carpet to make Brindle carry a teacup to Baby Annsimaginary sickbed. Baby Ann then required Brindle to hold the cupwhile she drank.Is Brindle BabyAnns slave? I thought Baby Ann already had a slave, Henry said.Baby Anns aprincess, Cora explained. She has lots of slaves.Oh, shes aprincess? What country is she from?America,Cora said, rolling her eyes as if Henry was being especiallyslow-witted. And then, in Baby Anns sinister, petulant timbre, shesaid, Brindle, tell me a story.Henry only knewadventure stories. In his terrible Brindle voice, he asked, Wouldyou like to hear a pirate story?Cora wrinkled hernose. No, thank you. She looked up, past Henry. Martin, doyou know any stories?Miss?Will you
certainly do worse in terms of a first love. Martin wouldbe careful with her heart. Then, with a pang of guilt, Henry thoughtof Alice Briggs. He should be nicer to her. She was just a littlegirl, after all.That was so kindof you to play with Little Miss last night, Sir, Nurse said in alow voice, patting Henrys arm. Baby Ann can be quite thetyrant.Why that doll?Henry asked. She has so many that are prettier, including the newone.I dont know,Sir. Even before her accident, Baby Ann wasnt Little Missprettiest doll. I dont think pretty has anything to do with it.They sat in silencea moment listening to Martin and Cora chat, then Nurse said, Ivemeant to say, Sir, that your Martin seems very happy in yourservice.Henry flushed,pleased, and said, Im glad to hear you think so. I think wereboth happy.I think now youhave a friend who understands you, Sir, Nurse said blandly, as ifshe didnt notice how her words intensified Henrys blush. Shegave Henrys arm a little squeeze and shake. Its thefriendship Ive always dreamed of for you, Sir, even if it is witha slave.Henry swallowedhard, so embarrassed he could scarcely speak, but he had to respond.Well, the slaves have always cared for me the most anyway, hesaid with a shrug, forced casualness. Its possible itllalways be that way, dont you think?Someday youllhave a wife wholl love you, Sir, Nurse said, but she did notsound particularly convinced that this was the sort of love Henrywould find fulfilling.The Wilton house wastwenty blocks south of the Blackwells more fashionableneighborhood, in what had been very fashionable territory acentury past. There were a few old families living here still, but itwas now a thoroughly bourgeois district. The Wiltons were a bitsnobbish about their long-standing residency, though to Henry theiroutdated address just seemed to show how far theyd come down inthe world.Henry liked hisWilton cousins quite well. Bette and Jesse both had the Wilton darkgood looks and were lively young people with wide-ranginginterestsreally, they were exactly the types that Father claimedhe wanted Henry to know but, because they were Wiltons, Father hadinstead told Henry to keep his distance.Over the years,Father had made sure Henry knew that everything he saw in the Wiltonhouse had been paid for with Blackwell money. Father had been bailingUncle Gilbert out for over twenty years now, ever since marryingMother, and seemed to expect to continue to do so far into thefuture. Uncle Gilbert had, of course, destroyed the Wilton familybusiness, and he had done no better with any of the ventures hedembarked upon after his spectacular failure with the mercantileempire. Eventually, Father had given him a well-paid job at BlackwellIndustries where he had no real power and could do no serious harm.Despite hisprofessional failures, Uncle Gilbert seemed a happy man. He and AuntVirginia got along very well and they were loving with and supportiveof their children to a degree that made Henry quite envious. Not onlywere the four of them a cozy unit, but they regularly met andsocialized with numerous additional Wilton relatives, the childrenand grandchildren of Grandfather Wiltons brothers, many of whomwould make an
appearance at the Christmas gathering. Henry certainlywould have liked to have been closer to the Wilton side of thefamily. It would have been nice, also, to have at least a fewBlackwell cousins, but if any such people existed, Father had longsince cut ties with them.At the Wilton house,there was a wreath on the door with a big red bow, and the front hallwas garlanded with evergreen boughs. The house smelled of pine andspices and roasting meats. Aunt Virginia came to greet them andaccepted a kiss on the cheek from Henry before spiriting Mother awayto a place of honor in the formal parlor where she might restand wait for Reggie to return from his morning calls.Uncle Gilbert shookHenrys hand and suggested he might join Bette and Jesse upstairs.Theyre in the music room, he told him. Do you rememberwhere that is?Yes, sir. Thankyou. Henry headed for the stairs with Martin at his back. Over hisshoulder, he said to Martin, Jesses a year older, and goes toschool uptown. He wants to be a writer or an artist of some kind.Bette must be 20 now. Shes not getting married just yet; she goesto college at Bryn Mawr.Very good, Sir.Someone was playingthe piano. The door to the music room stood open. Henry gave it alittle rap with his knuckles and pushed it wide.Bette sat on thepiano bench, picking out a song, her slave Vera at her side. Jessesat sideways in an armchair, his long legs draped over the arm. Hisslave Russ sat on the floor before the chair, eyes closed, his headtilted back and resting on Jesses hip. Jesses hand lay acrossthe front of Russ throat, casually possessive. Henry was startledand somewhat titillated by this display of intimacy. Neither he norany of his friends would dare be so openly affectionate with a slave.Jesse had only had Russ a few months at last Christmas, and they hadnot seemed nearly so at ease with one another at that time.All four looked upat Henry and Martin.Oh, hello,Henry, Bette said, smiling. Its so nice to see you.Its nice tosee you, too. Henry went to her and kissed her cheek.I forgot youdhave a slave of your own this year, Jesse said, swinging his legsaround to put his feet on the floor. Although Jesse was older thanHenry, he looked younger, slim and boyish, with glossy black hairfalling in his eyes and a quick smile. He was handsome, to be sure,and, with a little frisson of jealousy, Henry wondered if Martinwould think so, too. Jesse nodded at Martin. Very nice. Ganymede,of course? When Father had purchased companions for the cousins,hed insisted that they come from the Houses he favored.Yes, hesGanymede, Henry agreed. This is Martin.At your service,Sir. Miss. Martin gave each of the cousins a little bow.Jesse stood up andstretched, and he gave Russ a hand up, as well. Ive found thatthe Ganymede boys really are better trained than the others. Dontyou think so, too?Henry had not paidenough attention to have an informed opinion, but there was no needto let Jesse know that. Much better, he agreed.Jesse came forwardto have a look at Martin.
Say, youre only a year apart, arentyou? Jesse asked Russ. Do you know one another, then?Yes, Sir, saidRuss, smiling at Martin. Martin was one of the top boys in hisyear.Top boy, eh?Jesse grinned at Martin, sensing his embarrassment. Russ was amiddle boy, maybe, werent you, sport? Russ laughed and didntdeny it. Im lucky to have him, though. Your father did me agood turn. Jesse gave Henrys arm an affectionate squeeze, as ifHenry had had some hand in the matter. Henry was always a bitdisconcerted by the amount of touching the Wiltons engaged inhedidnt dislike it, but he didnt know how to respond toit, either.Why dont weclear out and let the girls play in peace? Jesse suggested. Wellgo to my room.Henry followed Jessedown the hall, the slaves already talking in low voices at his back.Slaves always seemed able to establish camaraderie with one anotheron a moments acquaintance, and Henry wished that the knack of itwas taught to free boys, as well.We can playpoker, Jesse suggested. You know how to play, right?They played formatchsticks. Jesse wasnt much better than Henry, but he wasbetter. Henry quickly lost all his matches, Martin and Russ buildingup larger and larger piles of sticks.Say, Martin,Jesse said. Do you like your long hair?Sir?Do you like it?Russ got sick of his, so I let him cut it, but now I wish I hadnt.Henry recalled that last Christmas Russ had had chestnut waves to themiddle of his back, but now his hair was quite conventionally short.It got in myfood, Sir, Russ protested. Its much better now that itslike this, really.I-I do like it,Sir, Martin said hesitantly. Im a bit vain, to tell thetruth.Jesse laughed.Imagine that, looking like you do.Henry bristled alittle. Was Jesse flirting with Martin?How well did youtwo know one another at Ganymede? Jesse asked.We were friendly,Sir, Russ said. We were different years, though, so we didntspend a lot of time together.So you didnttrain together, then? Jesse asked. You dont know each otherthat well.No, Sir,Martin said. We were just friendly.Maybe we canchange that, Jesse said blithely. After dinner.Henry froze,horrified. Hed not anticipated this sort of interest from hiscousin, and he was loath to spoil the good time they were having, buthe wasnt going to be willing to share Martin with either Jesse orRuss.Jesse seemed quiteunaware of Henrys dismay. He began to tell Henry about his penpal, a second cousin on his mothers side, a girl called Elizabethwith whom he felt he was very much in love. He put down his cards sothat he could show Henry a cabinet card of an elfin blonde holding ablack kitten, and Henry agreed that she was very pretty.Well haveobstacles to overcome, to be sure, Jesse admitted. Im onlytwo years older than her, and no one will think Im mature enoughto marry when shes eligible. He threw two matchsticks into thepot; Henry could plainly see that he had nothing in his hand, noteven a pair.Youre so sureyoull want to marry her?Oh, absolutely,Jesse assured him. He discarded three cards and drew new ones thatwere no better. And Ill be even more sure in three years whenshe turns
18. He bet again, cleaning himself out. Oh, look, Imout of matches now.They satside-by-side with their backs against the footboard of Jesses bedand watched their slaves continue to play.So, UncleReggies back, you know. He got here Sunday late. Jesse bumpedHenry with his shoulder. Hes the same old Reggie. Still wearscrazy clothes. Still the most loving guy you could ever want toknow.Henry often forgotthat Reggie had belonged to other people, too, not just Mother andhimself. Im a little nervous to see him, he admitted. Idont know what to say to him, you know? I adored him, but then hejust disappeared and I never heard from him again.Jesse snorted.Well, he couldnt exactly write to you, could he?Why not? Henrywas genuinely baffled.Well, it wasone of the conditions, Jesse said, as if this were obvious. Whenhe saw Henrys confused face, his expression softened. Oh. Ohdear. You didnt know, then? Jesse put his hand on Henrys armagain and gave him a squeeze meant to be comforting. Im sorry,Henry, I thought you knew what happened.Well, tell me.Please.Oh, gee. Jesselooked very much as if he wanted to be elsewhere. Well, Reggieowed your father a lot of money, you see, and he had done some thingsthat your father didnt approve of, and so he panicked and ran offto Europe with Mr. Ellsworth. Once he was overseas, well...yourfather paid him to stay there.Why would he dothat?Jesse gave him sucha tender, pitying look. To keep him away from you, of course,he said gently.Away from me?Henry felt a terrible sinking in his gut. If this was true, then itwas because of him that Uncle Reggie had disappeared. It was becauseof him, then, that Mother had been so miserable for the last nineyears.Its not yourfault, Henry, Jesse insisted, his hand still on Henrys arm. Itwas all your fathers doing. Your father isnt a bad man, Henry,but he doesnt trust people, and he went overboard. Anyone elsewould have seen that Reggies harmless.Henry wasdevastated. He felt so ashamed! It had all been to keep him fromturning out like Reggie, he realized, and hed gone and done soanyway. Everyone had been made unhappy for no reason.Sir? Martinhad laid down his cards and was looking at Henry with a worriedfrown. Is everything all right?Yes, yes, Imfine. Henry was shaking, but at pains to hide it.I didnt meanto upset you, Jesse said, sounding genuinely sorry. Really, Ijust assumed you knew, Henry.Henry hated hisfather! Loathed him! All these years, hed thought that UncleReggie had just grown tired of him, that the kindest adult in hislife (barring Nurse) had lost interest in him, but in actualityReggie had been exiled.Jesse put his armaround Henrys shoulders and gave him a hug that was surely meantto be comforting, though in truth the contact made Henry a bit jumpy.There was a knock onthe door and Henry pulled away from Jesse, flustered.Jesse? Can I comein? It was Darwin Hatch, a towheaded 14-year-old, second cousin toboth Jesse and Henry, who was voluble about baseball and what kind ofslave he wanted when he turned 16 in two years. Henry was grateful tohave someone there to pick up the