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affections of their master。 This caused her to look with a suspicious eye
on every good…looking negro woman that she saw。
While the old woman was thus lecturing her daughter upon her rights
and duties； Henry； unaware of what was transpiring； had left the house and
gone to his office。 As soon as the old woman found that he was gone；
she said；
〃I will venture anything that he is on his way to see that wench again。
I'll lay my life on it。〃
The entrance； however； of little Marcus； or Mark； as he was familiarly
called； asking for Massa Linwood's blue bag； satisfied her that her son…in…
law was at his office。 Before the old lady returned home； it was agreed that
Gertrude should come to her mother's to tea that evening； and Henry with
her； and that Mrs。 Miller should there charge the young husband with
inconstancy to her daughter； and demand the removal of Isabella。
With this understanding； the old woman retraced her steps to her own
dwelling。
Had Mrs。 Miller been of a different character and not surrounded by
slavery； she could scarcely have been unhappy in such a home as hers。
Just at the edge of the city； and sheltered by large poplar…trees was the old
homestead in which she resided。 There was a splendid orchard in the rear
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of the house； and the old weather…beaten sweep； with 〃the moss…covered
bucket〃 at its end； swung majestically over the deep well。 The garden was
scarcely to be equalled。 Its grounds were laid out in excellent taste； and
rare exotics in the greenhouse made it still more lovely。
It was a sweet autumn evening； when the air breathed through the
fragrant sheaves of grain； and the setting sun； with his golden kisses；
burnished the rich clusters of purple grapes； that Henry and Gertrude were
seen approaching the house on foot； it was nothing more than a pleasant
walk。 Oh； how Gertrude's heart beat as she seated herself； on their
arrival！
The beautiful parlor； surrounded on all sides with luxury and taste；
with the sun creeping through the damask curtains； added a charm to the
scene。 It was in this room that Gertrude had been introduced to Henry；
and the pleasant hours that she had spent there with him rushed unbidden
on her memory。 It was here that； in former days； her beautiful countenance
had made her appearance as fascinating and as lovely as that of
Cleopatra's。 Her sweet； musical voice might have been heard in every part
of the house； occasionally thrilling you with an unexpected touch。 How
changed the scene！ Her pale and wasted features could not be lighted up
by any thoughts of the past； and she was sorrowful at heart。
As usual； the servants in the kitchen were in ecstasies at the
announcement that 〃Miss Gerty；〃 as they called their young mistress； was
in the house； for they loved her sincerely。 Gertrude had saved them from
many a flogging； by interceding for them； when her mother was in one of
her uncontrollable passions。 Dinah； the cook； always expected Miss
Gerty to visit the kitchen as soon as she came； and was not a little
displeased； on this occasion； at what she considered her young mistress's
neglect。 Uncle Tony； too； looked regularly for Miss Gerty to visit the green
house； and congratulate him on his superiority as a gardener。
When tea was over； Mrs。 Miller dismissed the servants from the room；
then told her son…in…law what she had witnessed the previous night； and
demanded for her daughter that Isabella should be immediately sent out of
the State； and to be sure that the thing would be done； she wanted him to
give her the power to make such disposition of the woman and child as she
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should think best。 Gertrude was Mrs。 Miller's only child； and Henry felt
little like displeasing a family upon whose friendship he so much
depended； and； no doubt； long wishing to free himself from Isabella； he at
once yielded to the demands of his mother…in…law。 Mr。 Miller was a mere
cipher about his premises。 If any one came on business connected with
the farm； he would invariably say； 〃Wait till I see my wife；〃 and the wife's
opinion was sure to be law in every case。 Bankrupt in character； and
debauched in body and mind； with seven mulatto children who claimed
him as their father； he was badly prepared to find fault with his son…in…law。
It was settled that Mrs。 Miller should use her own discretion in removing
Isabella from her little cottage； and her future disposition。 With this
understanding Henry and Gertrude returned home。 In the deep recesses of
his heart the young man felt that he would like to see his child and its
mother once more； but fearing the wrath of his mother…in…law； he did not
dare to gratify his inclination。 He had not the slightest idea of what would
become of them； but he well knew that the old woman would have no
mercy on them。
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CHAPTER XIII
A HARD…HEARTED WOMAN
WITH no one but her dear little Clotelle； Isabella passed her weary
hours without partaking of either food or drink； hoping that Henry would
soon return； and that the strange meeting with the old woman would be
cleared up。
While seated in her neat little bedroom with her fevered face buried in
her handkerchief； the child ran in and told its mother that a carriage had
stopped in front of the house。 With a palpitating heart she arose from her
seat and went to the door； hoping that it was Henry； but； to her great
consternation； the old lady who had paid her such an unceremonious visit
on the evening that she had last seen Henry； stepped out of the carriage；
accompanied by the slave…trader； Jennings。
Isabella had seen the trader when he purchased her mother and sister；
and immediately recognized him。 What could these persons want there？
thought she。 Without any parleying or word of explanation； the two
entered the house； leaving the carriage in charge of a servant。
Clotelle ran to her mother； and clung to her dress as if frightened by
the strangers。
〃She's a fine…looking wench；〃 said the speculator； as he seated himself；
unasked； in the rocking…chair； 〃yet I don't think she is worth the money
you ask for her。〃
〃What do you want here？〃 inquired Isabella； with a quivering voice。
〃None of your insolence to me；〃 bawled out the old woman； at the top
of her voice； 〃if you do； I will give you what you deserve so much； my
lady；a good whipping。〃
In an agony of grief； pale； trembling； and ready to sink to the floor；
Isabella was only sustained by the hope that she would be able to save her
child。 At last； regaining her self…possession； she ordered them both to
leave the house。 Feeling herself insulted； the old woman seized the tongs
that stood by the fire…place； and raised them to strike the quadroon down；
but the slave…trader immediately jumped between the women； exclaiming；…
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…
〃I won't buy her； Mrs。 Miller； if you injure her。〃
Poor little Clotelle screamed as she saw the strange woman raise the
tongs at her mother。 With the exception of old Aunt Nancy； a free
colored woman； whom Isabella sometimes employed to work for her； the
child had never before seen a strange face in her mother's dwelling。
Fearing that Isabella would offer some resistance； Mrs。 Miller had ordered
the overseer of her own farm to follow her； and； just as Jennings had
stepped between the two women； Mull； the negro…driver； walked into the
room。
〃Seize that impudent hussy；〃 said Mrs。 Miller to the overseer； 〃and tie
her up this minute； that I may teach her a lesson she won't forget in a
hurry。〃
As she spoke； the old woman's eyes rolled； her lips quivered； and she
looked like a very