Rosa like a burr; and I have given up riding or walking, except when he is away.  But there’s no telling when he is away.  He went away yesterday, and said he was going to Savannah to be gone a week; but this morning, when I went into the woods behind the cottage to feed Thistle, he was lurking there.  He seized me, and held his hand over my mouth, and said I should hear him.  Then he told me that Rosa and I were his slaves; that he bought us of papa’s creditors, and could sell us any day.  And he says he will carry me off to Savannah and sell me if I don’t treat him better.  He would not let me go till I promised to meet him in Cypress Grove at dusk to-night.  I have been trying to earn money to go to Madame Guirlande, and get her to send me somewhere where I could give dancing-lessons, or singing-lessons, without being in danger of being taken up for a slave.  But I don’t know how to get to New Orleans alone; and if I am his slave, I am afraid he will come there with officers to take me.  So, dear new Mamita, I have come to you, to see if you can’t help me to get some money and go somewhere.”

Mrs. Delano pressed her gently to her heart, and responded in tones of tenderest pity:  “Get some money and go somewhere, you poor child!  Do you think I shall let dear Alfred’s little daughter go wandering alone about the world?  No, darling, you shall live with me, and be my daughter.”

“And don’t you care about my being colored and a slave?” asked Floracita, humbly.

“Let us never speak of that,” replied her friend.  “The whole transaction is so odious and wicked that I can’t bear to think of it.”

“I do feel so grateful to you, my dear new Mamita, that I don’t know what to say.  But it tears my heart in two to leave Rosa.  We have never been separated for a day since I was born.  And she is so good, and she loves me so!  And Tulee, too.  I didn’t dare to try to speak to her.  I knew I should break down.  All the way coming here I was frightened for fear Gerald would overtake me and carry me off.  And I cried so, thinking about Rosa and Tulee, not knowing when I should see them again, that I couldn’t see; and if Thistle hadn’t known the way himself, I shouldn’t have got here.  Poor Thistle!  It seemed as if my heart would break when I threw the bridle on his neck and left him to go back alone; I didn’t dare to hug, him but once, I was so afraid.  O, I am so glad that you will let me stay here!”

“I have been thinking it will not be prudent for you to stay here, my child,” replied Mrs. Delano.  “Search will be made for you in the morning, and you had better be out of the way before that.  There are some dresses belonging to Mrs. Welby’s daughter in a closet up stairs.  I will borrow one of them for you to wear.  The boat from Beaufort to Savannah will stop here in an hour to take some freight.  We will go to Savannah.  My colored laundress there has a chamber above her wash-room where you will be better concealed than in more genteel lodgings.  I will come back here to arrange things, and in a few days I will return to you and take you to my Northern home.”