“Some one,” said Robert, “has said that the Indian belongs to an old race and looks gloomily back to the past, and that the negro belongs to a young race and looks hopefully towards the future.”

“If that be so,” replied Marie, “our race-life corresponds more to the follies of youth than the faults of maturer years.”

On Dr. Latimer’s next visit he was much pleased to see a great change in Marie’s appearance.  Her eye had grown brighter, her step more elastic, and the anxiety had faded from her face.  Harry had arrived, and with him came Miss Delany.

“Good evening, Dr. Latimer,” said Iola, cheerily, as she entered the room with Miss Lucille Delany.  “This is my friend, Miss Delany, from Georgia.  Were she not present I would say she is one of the grandest women in America.”

“I am very much pleased to meet you,” said Dr. Latimer, cordially; “I have heard Miss Leroy speak of you.  We were expecting you,” he added, with a smile.

Just then Harry entered the room, and Iola presented him to Dr. Latimer, saying, “This is my brother, about whom mamma was so anxious.”

“Had you a pleasant journey?” asked Dr. Latimer, after the first greetings were over.

“Not especially,” answered Miss Delany.  “Southern roads are not always very pleasant to travel.  When Mr. Leroy entered the cars at A——­, where he was known, had he taken his seat among the white people he would have been remanded to the colored.”

“But after awhile,” said Harry, “as Miss Delany and myself were sitting together, laughing and chatting, a colored man entered the car, and, mistaking me for a white man, asked the conductor to have me removed, and I had to insist that I was colored in order to be permitted to remain.  It would be ludicrous, if it were not vexatious, to be too white to be black, and too black to be white.”

“Caste plays such fantastic tricks in this country,” said Dr. Latimer.

“I tell Mr. Leroy,” said Miss Delany, “that when he returns he must put a label on himself, saying, ‘I am a colored man,’ to prevent annoyance.”

CHAPTER XXX.

FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.

On the following Friday evening, Mr. Stillman’s pleasant, spacious parlors were filled to overflowing with a select company of earnest men and women deeply interested in the welfare of the race.

Bishop Tunster had prepared a paper on “Negro Emigration.”  Dr. Latimer opened the discussion by speaking favorably of some of the salient points, but said:—­

“I do not believe self-exilement is the true remedy for the wrongs of the negro.  Where should he go if he left this country?”

“Go to Africa,” replied Bishop Tunster, in his bluff, hearty tones.  “I believe that Africa is to be redeemed to civilization, and that the negro is to be gathered into the family of nations and recognized as a man and a brother.”