pin, ’cause she would work so hard when she was done her task for Missus.  But one day Missus got de debil in her, and sayed Andy shouldn’t come der any more, and she jist had all Nancy’s tings took out de cabin and shut it up, and made her come and sleep in de house.  Pore Nancy, she cried as if her heart would break right in two; and she says why does you take my husban’ from me? and Missus said I did it to please my own self, and den Nancy kneeled at her feet and said, ’Missus I’ll get up before day and set up till twelve or one o’clock at night and work for you, but please don’t take me from my husban’.  An’ what do you think ole Missus did?  Why she jist up wid her foot and kicked Nancy in de mouf, and knocked out two of her teef.  I seed her do it wid my own blessed eyes.  An’ I sed to myself de debil will never git his own till he gits you.  Well she did worry dat pore cretur almost to death.  She used to make her sleep in the room wid her chillen, and locked de door ebery night, and Sundays she’d lebe some one to watch her, she was so fraid she’d git to see her husban’.  An’ dis Miss Georgiette is de very moral of her Ma, and she’s jist as big as a spitfire.”

“Hush,” said Milly, “here comes Jane.  Don’t say no more ’bout Missus, cause she’s real white people’s nigger, and tells all she knows, and what she don’t.”

Chapter IV

“I am really sorry, Ellen, but I can’t help it.  Georgiette has taken a dislike to the child, and there is no living in peace with her unless I sell the child or take it away.”

“Oh!  Mr. St. Pierre, you would not sell that child when it is your own flesh and blood?” Le Grange winced under these words.

“No, Ellen, I’ll never consent to sell the child, but it won’t do for her to stay here.  I’ve made up my mind to send her North, and have her educated.”

“And then I’ll never see my darling any more.”

“But, Ellen, that is better than having her here to be knocked around by Georgiette, and if I die to be sold as a slave.  It is the best thing I can do,—­hang old Mrs. Le Fevre’s tongue; but I guess it would have come out some time or the other.  I just tell you what I’ll do, Ellen.  I’ll take the child down to New Orleans, and make out to Georgiette that I am going to sell her, but instead of that, I’ll get a friend of mine who is going to Pennsylvania to take her with him, and have her boarded there, and educated.  Nobody need know anything about her being colored.  I’d send you both, Ellen, but, to tell you the truth, the plantation is running down, and the crops are so short this year I can’t afford it; but when times get better, I’ll send you up there and tell you where you can find her.”

“Well, Mr. St. Pierre, that is better than having Missus knocking her around or selling her to one of those old mean nigger traders, and never having a chance to see my darling no more.  But, Mr. St. Pierre, before you take her away won’t you please give me her likeness?  Maybe I won’t know her when I see her again.”