Well, then, it was not because she was not a thoroughly indoctrinated anti-slavery woman.  Her husband, who did all her thinking for her, had been a man of ideas beyond his day, and never for a moment countenanced the right of slavery so far as to buy or own a servant or attendant of any kind; and Mrs. Scudder had always followed decidedly along the path of his opinions and practice, and never hesitated to declare the reasons for the faith that was in her.  But if any of us could imagine an angel dropped down out of heaven, with wings, ideas, notions, manners, and customs all fresh from that very different country, we might easily suppose that the most pious and orthodox family might find the task of presenting him in general society and piloting him along the courses of this world a very delicate and embarrassing one.  However much they might reverence him on their own private account, their hearts would probably sink within them at the idea of allowing him to expand himself according to his previous nature and habits in the great world without.  In like manner, men of high, unworldly natures are often reverenced by those who are somewhat puzzled what to do with them practically.

Mrs. Scudder considered the Doctor as a superior being, possessed by a holy helplessness in all things material and temporal, which imposed on her the necessity of thinking and caring for him, and prevising the earthly and material aspects of his affairs.

There was not in Newport a more thriving and reputable business at that time than the slave-trade.  Large fortunes were constantly being turned out in it, and what better Providential witness of its justice could most people require?

Beside this, in their own little church, she reflected with alarm, that Simeon Brown, the richest and most liberal supporter of the society, had been, and was then, drawing all his wealth from this source; and rapidly there flashed before her mind a picture of one and another, influential persons, who were holders of slaves.  Therefore, when the Doctor announced, “I must testify,” she rattled her tea-spoon uneasily, and answered,—­

“In what way, Doctor, do you think of bearing testimony?  The subject, I think, is a very difficult one.”

“Difficult?  I think no subject can be clearer.  If we were right in our war for liberty, we are wrong in making slaves or keeping them.”

“Oh, I did not mean,” said Mrs. Scudder, “that it was difficult to understand the subject; the right of the matter is clear, but what to do is the thing.”

“I shall preach about it,” said the Doctor; “my mind has run upon it some time.  I shall show to the house of Judah their sin in this matter.”

“I fear there will be great offence given,” said Mrs. Scudder.  “There’s Simeon Brown, one of our largest supporters,—­he is in the trade.”

“Ah, yes,—­but he will come out of it,—­of course he will,—­he is all right, all clear.  I was delighted with the clearness of his views the other night, and thought then of bringing them to bear on this point,—­only, as others were present, I deferred it.  But I can show him that it follows logically from his principles; I am confident of that.”