Cyrus

Mrs. Hayne’s chore man is named Cyrus. He is the one who awaits Delia and her husband at the Providence Station and brings them to Boston. One can assume that Cyrus is an African-American when one looks at the passage in the short story where it is written that “[…] he was, in fact, conspicuous on the platform, his smile shining like an open piano, […]”. (White 10) Only in contrast to a dark skin, teeth could be compared to piano keys as they shine very bright then. He must be a member of the serving-class, since he works for Aunt Mary and his vocabulary is very simple and vulgar. This can be seen when, “[…] Cyrus would meet them with a “hack”; […]”. (White 10) He does not seem to like the Corbett’s when he picks them up as he watches them with “[…] depreciatory eyes […]”. (White 10)