He informed her of his purchase, and that it was his intention to send her there to take charge of his house and servants, for the present.

Chloe, who was both extremely surprised and highly flattered by this proof of her young master’s confidence, looked very much delighted, as, with a low courtesy, she expressed her thanks, and her willingness to undertake the charge.  But a sudden thought struck her, and she asked anxiously if “her child” was to go with her.

Mr. Dinsmore said “No,” very decidedly; and when Chloe told him that that being the case, she would much rather stay where she was, if he would let her, he said she could not have any choice in the matter; she must go, and Elsie must stay.

Chloe burst into an agony of tears and sobs, begging to know why she was to be separated from the child she had loved and cherished ever since her birth; the child committed to her charge by her dying mother?  What had she done to so displease her master, that he had determined to subject her to such a bitter trial?

Mr. Dinsmore was a good deal moved by her grief, but still not to be turned from his purpose.  He merely waited until she had grown somewhat calmer, and then, in a tone of great kindness, but with much firmness and decision, replied, “that he was not angry with her; that he knew she had been very faithful in her kind care of his wife and child, and he should always take care of her, and see that she was made comfortable as long as she lived; but, for reasons which he did not think necessary to explain, he considered it best to separate her from Elsie for a time; he knew it would be hard for them both, but it must be done, and tears and entreaties would be utterly useless; she must prepare to go to her new home that very afternoon.”

So saying he dismissed her, and she went back to Elsie’s room wellnigh heart-broken; and there the little girl found her when she came in from school duties, sitting beside the trunk she had just finished packing, crying and sobbing as she had never seen her before.

“Oh, mammy, mammy! what is the matter? dear old mammy, what ails you?” she asked, running to her, and throwing her arms around her neck.

Chloe clasped her to her breast, sobbing out that she must leave her.  “Massa Horace was going to send her away from her precious child.”

Elsie was fairly stunned by the announcement, and for a moment could not speak one word.  To be separated from her beloved nurse who had always taken care of her!—­who seemed almost necessary to her existence.  It was such a calamity as even her worst fears had never suggested, for they never had been parted, even for a single day; but wherever the little girl went, if to stay more than a few hours, her faithful attendant had always accompanied her, and she had never thought of the possibility of doing without her.

She unclasped her arms from Chloe’s neck, disengaging herself from her loving grasp, stood for a moment motionless and silent; then, suddenly sinking down upon her nurse’s lap, again wound her arms about her neck, and hid her face on her bosom, sobbing wildly:  “Oh, mammy, mammy! you shall not go!  Stay with me, mammy!  I’ve nobody to love me now but you, and my heart will break if you leave me.  Oh, mammy, say that you won’t go!”