They sat a long while round the table—­much time that, under ordinary circumstances, would have been given to the demolition of the food before them, being occupied by the elders of the party in inquiries after mutual friends, and in relating the many incidents that had occurred since they last met.

Tea being at length finished, and the things cleared away, Mrs. Ellis gave the girls permission to go out.  “Where are you going?” asked their father.

“To the library company’s room—­to-night is their last lecture.”

“I thought,” said Winston, “that coloured persons were excluded from such places.  I certainly have been told so several times.”

“It is quite true,” replied Mr. Ellis; “at the lectures of the white library societies a coloured person would no more be permitted to enter than a donkey or a rattle-snake.  This association they speak of is entirely composed of people of colour.  They have a fine library, a debating club, chemical apparatus, collections of minerals, &c.  They have been having a course of lectures delivered before them this winter, and to-night is the last of the course.”

“Wouldn’t you like to go, Mr. Winston?” asked Mrs. Ellis, who had a mother’s desire to secure so fine an escort for her daughters.

“No, no—­don’t, George,” quickly interposed Mr. Ellis; “I am selfish enough to want you entirely to myself to-night.  The girls will find beaux enough, I’ll warrant you.”  At this request the girls did not seem greatly pleased, and Miss Caddy, who already, in imagination, had excited the envy of all her female friends by the grand entree she was to make at the Lyceum, leaning on the arm of Winston, gave her father a by no means affectionate look, and tying her bonnet-strings with a hasty jerk, started out in company with her sister.

“You appear to be very comfortable here, Ellis,” said Mr. Winston, looking round the apartment.  “If I am not too inquisitive—­what rent do you pay for this house?”

“It’s mine!” replied Ellis, with an air of satisfaction; “house, ground, and all, bought and paid for since I settled here.”

“Why, you are getting on well!  I suppose,” remarked Winston, “that you are much better off than the majority of your coloured friends.  From all I can learn, the free coloured people in the Northern cities are very badly off.  I’ve been frequently told that they suffer dreadfully from want and privations of various kinds.”

“Oh, I see you have been swallowing the usual dose that is poured down Southern throats by those Northern negro-haters, who seem to think it a duty they owe the South to tell all manner of infamous lies upon us free coloured people.  I really get so indignant and provoked sometimes, that I scarcely know what to do with myself.  Badly off, and in want, indeed!  Why, my dear sir, we not only support our own poor, but assist the whites to support theirs, and enemies are continually filling the public ear