He is half inclined to let his
better feelings give way to sympathy. But custom and commerce forbid
it; they carry off the spoil, just as the sagacious pumpkin
philosopher of England admits slavery a great evil, while delivering
an essay for the purpose of ridiculing emancipation.
M'Carstrow soon changes his feelings,--addresses himself to business.
"Are you in here for sale?" he enquires, attempting to whistle an
air, and preserve an unaffected appearance.
The question touches a tender chord of her feelings; her bosom
swells with emotions of grief; he has wounded that sensitive chord
upon which the knowledge of her degradation hangs. She draws a
handkerchief from her pocket, wipes the tear that glistens in her
eye, clasps Annette in her arms-while Nicholas, frightened, hangs by
the skirts of her dress,--buries her face in her bosom, retires a few
steps, and again seats herself on the blanket.
"The question is pending. If I'm right about it-and I believe I'm
generally so on such cases-it comes on before the next session, fall
term," says the gaoler, turning to M'Carstrow with a look of
wonderful importance. The gaoler, who, with his keys, lets loose the
anxieties of men, continues his learned remarks. "Notice has been
served how she's free. But that kind o' twisting things to make
slave property free never amounts to much, especially when a man
gets where they say Marston is! Anthony Romescos has been quizzing
about, and it don't take much to make such things property when he's
round.
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