Bacchus, the tears rolling down his cheeks, looked earnestly at his master’s face.

“Buy her, master, buy her, for the love of God,” he said.

“Sarah,” said Mr. Weston, “I do not like to be in a public place; do not, therefore, become excited, and say any thing that will draw observation to me.  I have bought you, and I will not require you to repay me.  Come to me to-night, at Willard’s, and I will give you your free papers; I will see also what I can do for your husband.  In the mean time, Bacchus will help you take your things from this place.  Stay here though a few moments, until he gets me a carriage to go home in, and he will return to you.”

Sarah perfectly understood that Mr. Weston wanted no thanks at that time.  With streaming eyes, now raised to heaven—­now to her benefactor, she held her peace.  Mr. Weston gladly left the dreadful place.  Bacchus assisted him to a hack, and then came back to fulfil his directions as regards the woman.

Oh! noble heart, not here thy reward!  Thy weak and trembling frame attests too well that the scene is too trying to afford thee pleasure.  The All-seeing Eye is bent upon thee, and thine own ear will hear the commendation from the lips of Christ:  “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  Nor thou alone!  Many a generous act is done by the slaveholder to the slave.  God will remember them, though here they be forgotten or unknown.

We need not dwell on the unhoped-for meeting between Sarah and her husband, nor on Bacchus’s description of it to his master.  It suffices to close the relation of this incident by saying, that at night Sarah came to receive directions from Mr. Weston; but in their place he gave her the necessary free papers.  “You are your own mistress, now, Sarah,” said he.  “I hope you will prove yourself worthy to be so.  You can assist your husband to pay for himself.  If you are honest and industrious, you cannot fail to do well.”

Sarah’s heart overflowed with unlooked-for happiness.  She thanked Mr. Weston over and over again, until, fearing to be troublesome, she withdrew.  Bacchus went as far as the corner, and promised to look in upon herself and husband, repeatedly; which he did.  He impressed his new acquaintances with a proper sense of his own importance.  With the exception of one grand spree that he and Sarah’s husband had together, the three enjoyed a very pleasant and harmonious intercourse during the remainder of the Westons’ stay at Washington.

* * * * *

The gay winter had passed, and spring had replaced it; but night after night saw the votaries of fashion assembled, though many of them looked rather the worse for wear.  Ellen and Alice tired of scenes which varied so little, yet having no regular employment, they hardly knew how to cease the round of amusements that occupied them.  Ellen said, “Never mind, Alice, we will have plenty of time for repentance, and we might as well quaff to the last drop the cup of pleasure, which may never be offered to our lips again.”  Very soon they were to return to Virginia, and now they proposed visiting places of interest in the neighborhood of the city.