“Too hardly, papa! too hardly, when he has shown himself so cruel!  But I beg pardon for interrupting you.”

“Yes, too hardly, daughter.  He is a New Englander, used to see every one about him working with steady, persevering industry, and the indolent, dawdling ways of the blacks, which we take as a matter of course, are exceedingly trying to him.  I think he has been very faithful to your interests, and that probably his desire and determination to see them advanced to the utmost, led, more than anything else, to the act which seems to us so cruel.”

“And could he suppose that I would have blood wrung from my poor people that a few more dollars might find their way into my purse?” she cried in indignant sorrow and anger.  “Oh, papa, I am not so cruel, you know I am not.”

“Yes, my darling, I know you have a very tender, loving heart.”

“But what shall I do with Spriggs?”

“For to-night, express your sentiments and feelings on the subject as calmly and moderately as you can, and enjoin it upon him to act in accordance with them.  Then we may consider at our leisure what further measures can be taken.”

“Papa, you are so much wiser and better than I,” she said, with loving admiration, “I’m afraid if you had not been here to advise me, I should have sent him away at once, with never a thought of crops or anything except securing my people from his cruelties.”

“You should never allow yourself to act from mere impulse, except it be unquestionably a right one, and the case admitting of no time for deliberation.  As to my superior wisdom,” he added with a smile, “I have lived some years longer than you, and had more experience in the management of business matters.”

“I am very sorry, my darling, that the pleasure of your return to the home of your infancy should be so marred.  But you have scarcely taken a look yet at even this room.  What do you think of it?”

She glanced about her with freshly aroused curiosity and interest.  “Papa, it is just to my taste!”

The firelight gleamed upon rare old cabinets, gems of art in painting and statuary, and rich, massive, well-preserved, though old-fashioned sofas, chairs, tables, etc.  But it was already growing dark, deep shadows were gathering in the more distant parts of the spacious apartment, and only near the fire could objects be distinctly seen.  Elsie was about to ring for lights, when Sarah, the mulatto girl, appeared, bringing them, Chloe following close in the rear.

“Have you fires and lights in the library, the dining-room, and your master’s rooms and mine?” inquired Elsie.

“De fires is lit, Miss Elsie.”

“Then add the lights at once, and put them in all the principal rooms of the house.  We will have an illumination in honor of our arrival, papa,” she said, in a sprightly tone, turning to him with one of her sweetest smiles, “and besides, I want to see the whole house now.”