drawing? Scandalous! Reggieseemed delighted, though.Whatsso scandalous about it? Mother asked.Oh,darling, its a nude.A tasteful one, but a nude all the same.Mother,to her credit, became concerned. Jesse is gallivanting around witha girl who poses nude? Does Gilbert know about this?Reggiepatted her arm again. Calm yourself, darling. She didntactually pose. Its Jesses impressionof her. And shes safely away in Chicago. They write letters. Itsall very harmless. And, really, Jesse draws remarkably well.Motherseemed reasonably satisfied with this answer. As she asked Pearl torefill her tea, Henry noted that shed eaten the greater portion ofa date-studded muffin, which was the most food hed seen her eatin...he didnt know how long. Reggies return seemed to mean onlygood things.Whatabout you, Henry, darling? Do you really not have a sweetheart?Henryfelt his cheeks grow hot. Not exactly, he said, and immediatelyregretted it. Why hadnt he just said no?Oh,dear, said Reggie. Is it an unrequited love, then?No,no. Henrys blush deepened and he dropped his gaze to his dirtyplate. Theres no girl. I just meant that I have Martin, myslave, and Im content with things as they are. I dont want asweetheart.Reggiesmiled up at Martin. Youre very close to him, then?Henrykept his gaze fixed on the plate. I-I dont know. Maybe? Hedidnt want to admit to anything.Benjaminand I have always been close, Reggie said. My Benjy is my rock.Im not a strong person, Henry, and Ive often needed his supportin trying times.Henryknows that Pearl is myrock, Mother said. Ive told him he must treasure his slave.Martin seems like such a lovely boy, and Pearl speaks so highly ofhim.Hesterriblyattractive, Reggie said. I suppose your friends are clamoringround wanting to get their grubby mitts on him?Henryblushed anew. Hed never discussed swapping with an adult and itseemed particularly wrong to do so. Yes. But I dont share him.I think its horrible.Goodfor you, Reggie said emphatically. I never went in for any ofthe slave trading my school friends played at, either. Maybe Imold-fashioned, but I just loved Benjy too much to want to put himthrough that. Right away, from the moment we met, I just adored him!I never trusted even my closest friends to treat him with the properrespect. It didnt make me popular, thats for certain, but I dothink it led to Benjy loving me in return. He turned and lookedback over his shoulder at Benjamin standing behind the chair. Do Ihave it right, Benjy?Benjaminstepped forward and smiled down at his master. Thats about thesize of it, Sir.Henrydidnt know what to make of this conversation. What sort ofrelationship didhis uncle have with his slave? It wasnt at all clear if they weremerely incredibly fond of one another, or if they were like Martinand himselfcompletely inappropriate and flouting all the rules.Maybe Henry wasnt unusual; maybe all queer men misbehaved withtheir slaves. He wished he could also turn around and ask Martin whathe thought of this entire topic, if he found it as confounding asHenry did.Henrywas also very curious about Mr. Ellsworths role in Reggieslife. It was clear that Mr. Ellsworth had been much older, and theidea of intimacy with a very old man certainly didnt appeal