“As a rule no more objection is raised to white and colored children sitting on separate seats in the same school room than to their sitting on separate seats in the same street car.  The school is regarded as a place for work, where each has his own work to do, much the same as in the shop or factory where both white and colored are employed.  The expense of the single school system is, of course, much less than where separate schools are maintained; and perhaps an equally important point is that in the single system the same moral standards are held up by the teachers for both white and colored children.”

“That point is worthy of consideration,” said Mr. West.  “It is very certain that a class of negroes has grown up in these more recent years that was practically unknown in slave times when white men were more largely responsible for their moral training.  The vile wretches who made the attack this evening probably never received any moral training.  It is conceivable that the moral influence of the white children over the negroes in the same school might exert a lasting benefit, even aside from the influence of the teacher; and the relationship of the school room could not be any real disadvantage to the white child.  But this could only be brought about where white teachers were employed.  Some such arrangement would doubtless have been made had the mind of Lincoln directed the general policy of reconstruction; but it is doubtful now if the negro teacher will ever be wholly replaced, although time has wrought greater changes in political lines since the black years of the reconstruction.”

“Yes,” said Percy, “and those changes which have been brought about in the South have the full sympathy and approval of the great majority of the Northern people.  Indeed, it is extremely doubtful if the North will be able to completely banish such a source of vice and corruption as the open saloon until limitation is placed upon the franchise by an educational qualification.”

CHAPTER XI

JUDGMENT IS COME

The goddess of sleep seemed to have deserted Westover.  Adelaide lay in her mother’s arms, either awake and restless or in fitful sleep from which she frequently awoke with a muffled scream or a physical contortion.  Once, as she nestled closer, her mother heard her murmur:  “You must pardon me.”

Percy, from the southwest room, was sure he heard horses feet at the side gate.  The murmur of low voices reached his ear, and then he recognized that horsemen were riding away.

The house was astir at early dawn; and as soon as breakfast was over Mr. West had the colts hitched to the “buckboard” and he drove with Percy to Montplain.

“I think your testimony will not be needed this morning,” said Mr. West, “but it may be needed later, and it is well that you should report to the officers at any rate, since you promised to be there this morning.”