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Show I I 150 UNCLE TO~l'S CABIN: OR, ,, How did you hear that?'' said 'rom. .''I hid myself behind the curtains when l\fissis was talking with tho lawyer. In a few days wo shall all bo sent ofi' to auction, Tom." " ~rho Lord's will be dono ! " said Tom, folding his arms and sighing heavily. "'Ve'll never get another such a master,'' said Adolph, apprehensively; "but I'd rather be sold than take my chanco under l\Iissis." Tom turned away; his heart was full. Tho hope of liberty, tho thought of distant wife and children, rose up before his patient soul, as to the mariner shipwrecked almost in port rises tho vision of the church-spire and loving roofs of his native village, seen over the top of some black wave only for one last farewell. He drew his arms tightly over his bosom, and choked back the bitter tears, and tried to pray. The poor old soul had such a singular, unaccountable prejudice in favor of liberty, that it was a hard wrench for him; and the more be said, "Thy will be done," tho worse he felt. He sought Miss Ophelia, who, ever since Eva's death, had treated him with marked and respectful kindness. ")\Iiss Feely," he said, "Mas'r St. Clare promised me my freedom. lie told me that he had begun to take it out for me; and now, perhaps, if Miss Feely would be good enough to speak about it to Missis, she would feel like goin' on with it, as it was l\ias'r St. Clare's wish." "I ' II speak for you, Tom, and do my best," said Miss Ophelia; "but, if it depends on Mrs. St. Clare, I can't hope much for you;-nevertheless, I will try." This incident occurred a few days after that of Rosa, while Miss Ophelia was busied in preparations to return north. Seriously refiecting within herself, she considered that per- LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 151 haps she had shown too hasty a warmth of language in her former interview with :Marie; and she resolved that she would now endeavor to moderate her zeal, and to be as conciliatory as possible. So the good soul gathered herself up, and, taking her knitting, resolved to go into Marie's room, be as ngrccablc as possible, and negotiate Tom's case with all the diplomatic skill of which she was mistress. She found :Marie reclining at length upon a lounge, supporting herself on one elbow by pillows, while Jane, who had been out shopping, wns disphying before her certain samples of thin black stuff;. H That will do," said 1Iaric, selecting one; H only I'm not sure about its being properly mourning." " Laws, l\fissis," said Jane, volubly, "~f1-s. General Dcrbennon wore just this very thing, after the General died, last summer; it makes up lovely!" "What do you think?" said Marie to Miss Ophelia. "It's a matter of custom, I suppose/' said :l\Iiss Ophelia. "You can judge about it better than I." "The fact is," said ~iarie, "that I haven't a dress in the world that I can wear; and, as I am going to break up the establishment, and go off, next week, I must decide upon something.'' " Are you going so soon 1" "Yes. St. Clare's brother bas written, and he and the lawyer think that the scrrants and furniture had better be put up at :motion, and the place left with our lawyer., n There 's one thing I wanted to spcn.k with you about," said Miss Ophelia. "Augustine promised Tom his liberty, and began the legal forms necessary to it. I hope you will use your influence to ha\'C it perfected." " Indeed, I shall do no such thing 1 " said Marie, sl1arply. |