The next morning she was not to be found; and Dr. Rich went in search of her, with his father-in-law, Mr. Wiltbank.  Having frightened some ignorant colored people where she visited, by threats of prosecuting them for harboring a runaway, they confessed that she had gone from their house to Isaac T. Hopper.  Mr. Wiltbank accordingly waited upon him, and after relating the circumstances of the case, inquired whether he had seen the fugitive.  In reply, he made a frank statement of the interview he had with her, and of her fixed determination to obtain her freedom.  The clergyman reproached her with ingratitude, and said she had always been treated with great kindness.

“The woman herself gives a very different account of her treatment,” replied Friend Hopper; “but be that as it may, I cannot blame her for wishing to obtain her liberty.”

He asked if Friend Hopper knew where she then was; and he answered that he did not.  “Could you find her, if you tried?” inquired he.

“I presume I could do it very easily,” rejoined the Quaker.  “The colored people never wish to secrete themselves from me; for they know I am their true friend.”

Mr. Wiltbank then said, “If you will cause her to be brought to your house, Dr. Rich and myself will come here at eight o’clock this evening.  You will then hear her ask her master’s pardon, acknowledge the kindness with which she has always been treated, and express her readiness to go home with him.”

Friend Hopper indignantly replied, “I have no doubt that fear might induce her to profess all thou hast said.  But what trait hast thou discovered in my character, that leads thee to suppose I would be such a hypocrite as to betray the confidence this poor woman has reposed in me, by placing her in the power of her master, in the way thou hast proposed?”

Mr. Wiltbank then requested that a message might be conveyed to the woman, exhorting her to return, and promising that no notice whatever would be taken of her offence.

“She shall be informed of thy message, if that will be any satisfaction to thee,” replied Friend Hopper; “but I am perfectly sure she will never voluntarily return into slavery.”

Dr. Rich and Mr. Wiltbank called in the evening, and were told the message had been delivered to the woman, but she refused to return.  “She is in your house now,” exclaimed Dr. Rich.  “I can prove it; and if you don’t let me see her, I will commence a suit against you to-morrow, for harboring my slave.”

“I believe Solomon Low resides in thy neighborhood,” said Friend Hopper.  “Art thou acquainted with him?”

Being answered in the affirmative, he said, “Solomon Low brought three such suits as thou hast threatened.  They cost him seventeen hundred dollars, which I heard he was unable to pay.  But perhaps thou hast seventeen hundred dollars to spare?”

Dr. Rich answered that he could well afford to lose that sum.