letter.  Who could papa’s friend be that left me a legacy?  I was thankful for the fifty dollars, for it is very unpleasant to me to use any of Mr. Fitzgerald’s money, though he tells Tom to supply everything I want.  If it were not for you, dear friends, I don’t think I should have courage to try to live.  But something sustains me wonderfully through these dreadful trials.  Sometimes I think poor Chloe’s prayers bring me help from above; for the good soul is always praying for me.

“Adieu.  May the good God bless you both.

“Your loving and grateful

“ROSABELLA.”

* * * * *

Week passed after week, and the promised papers did not come.  The weary days dragged their slow length along, unsoothed by anything except Tulee’s loving care and Madame’s cheering letters.  The piano was never opened; for all tones of music were draped in mourning, and its harmonies were a funeral march over buried love.  But she enjoyed the open air and the fragrance of the flowers.  Sometimes she walked slowly about the lawn, and sometimes Tulee set her upon Thistle’s back, and led him round and round through the bridle-paths.  But out of the woods that concealed their nest they never ventured, lest they should meet Mrs. Fitzgerald.  Tulee, who was somewhat proud on her mistress’s account, was vexed by this limitation.  “I don’t see why ye should hide yerself from her,” said she.  “Yese as good as she is; and ye’ve nothin’ to be shamed of.”

“It isn’t on my own account that I wish to avoid her seeing me,” replied Rosa.  “But I pity the innocent young creature.  She didn’t know of disturbing my happiness, and I should be sorry to disturb hers.”

As the weeks glided away without bringing any fulfilment of Fitzgerald’s promise, anxiety changed to distrust.  She twice requested Tom to ask his master for the papers he had spoken of, and received a verbal answer that they would be sent as soon as they were ready.  There were greater obstacles in the way than she, in her inexperience, was aware of.  The laws of Georgia restrained humane impulses by forbidding the manumission of a slave.  Consequently, he must either incur very undesirable publicity by applying to the legislature for a special exception in this case, or she must be manumitted in another State.  He would gladly have managed a journey without the company of his wife, if he could thereby have regained his former influence with Rosa; but he was disinclined to take so much trouble to free her entirely from him.  When he promised to send the papers, he intended to satisfy her with a sham certificate, as he had done with a counterfeit marriage; but he deferred doing it, because he had a vague sense of satisfaction in being able to tantalize the superior woman over whom he felt that he no longer had any other power.

CHAPTER XVI.