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Show 148 UNCJ,E TOM'S CAUIN: OR, Mario wiped her eyes with a cambric handkerchief, bordered with an inch deep of black. "I came," said J\'liss Ophclirt, with a short, dry cough, such as commonly introduces a difficult subject,-" I came to speak with you about poor Rosa." :Marie's eyes were open wide enough now, and a flush rose to her sallow checks, as she answered, sharply, "VVcll, what about her?" " She is very sorry for her f<1ult." "She is, is she? She 'II be sorrier, before I've done with her! I 'vc endured that child's impudence long enough; and now I'll bring her down,- I 'll make her lie in the dust!" "But could not you punish her some other way,-somc way that would be less shameful?" ''I mean to shame her; that's just what I want. She has all her life presumed on her delicacy, and her good looks, and her lady-like airs, till she forgets who she is; -and I 'II give her one lesson tlmt will bring her down, I fancy ! n n But, Cousin, consider that, if you destroy delicacy and a sense of shame in a young girl, you deprave her ycry fast." "Delicacy!" said Marie, with a scornful laugh,-" a fine word for such as she ! I'll teach her, wHh all her airs, that she 's no better than tho raggedcst black wench that walks the streets! She '11 take no more airs with, me!" n You will answer to God for such cruelty! " said Miss Ophelia, with energy. "Cruelty,- I 'd like to know what the cruelty is! I wrote orders for on! y fifteen lashes, and told him to put them on lightly. I 'm sure there 's no cruelty tl1Cre! " "No cruelty! " said 1\iiss Ophelia. " I'm sure any girl might rather be killed outright!" "It might seem so to anybody with your feeling; but all LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 149 these creatures get used to it; it's tho only way they can bo kept in order. Once let them feel that they arc to take any airs about delicacy, and all that, and they '11 run all over you, just as my servants always have. I've begun now to bring them under; and I'll have them all to know that I ' 11 send one out to be whipped, as soon as another, if they don't mind themselves!" said Marie, looking: around her decidedly. Jane hung her head aml cowered at this, for she felt as if it was particulm·ly directed to her. Miss Ophelia sat for a moment, as if she had swallowed some explosive mixture, and were ready to burst. ~1 hen, recollecting the utter uselessness of contention with such a nature, she shut her lips resolutely, gathered herself up, and walked out of the room. It was hard to go back and tell Rosa that she could do nothing for her; and, shortly after, one of the man-serYants came to say that her mistress had ordered him to take Rosa with him to the whipping-house, whither she was hurried, in spite of her tears and entreaties. A few days after, Tom was standing musing by the balconies, when he was joined by Adolph, who, since the death of his master1 l1ad been entirely crest-fallen and disconsolate. Adolph knew that he had always been an object of dislike to Marie; but while his master lived he had paid but little attention to it. Now that he was gone, he had moved about in daily dread and trembling, not knowing what might befall him next. ~In.J:ie hnd held several consultations with her lawyer ; after communicating with St. Clare's brother, it was determined to sell the place, and all the servants, except her own personal property, and these she intended to take with her, and go back to her fitther's plantation. "Do ye know, '11om, tha.t we've all got to be sold?" said Adolph. VOL. II. 13* |