"Such matters are exceedingly annoying to gentlemen of my standing,"
says Mr. Seabrook, as deliberately he proceeds to the fulfilment of
his promise. He is a methodical gentleman, and having weighed the
matter well over in his legal mind, is deeply indebted to it for the
conclusion that Mrs. Rosebrook has got a very unsystematised
crotchet into her brain. "The exhibition of sympathy for
'niggers'-they're nothing else" says Mr. Seabrook-"much adds to that
popular prejudice which is already placing her in an extremely
delicate position." He will call to his aid some very nice legal
tact, and by that never-failing unction satisfy the good lady.
When Mr. Seabrook enters the mart (our readers will remember that we
have already described it) he finds the children undergoing a very
minute examination at the hands of several slave-dealers. As Mr.
Forshou, the very polite man-seller, is despatching the rougher
quality of human merchandise, our hero advances to the children,
about whose father he asks them unanswerable questions. How
interesting the children look!-how like a picture of beauty
Annette's cherub face glows forth! Being seriously concerned about
the child, his countenance wears an air of deep thought. "Colonel,
what's your legal opinion of such pretty property?" enquires
Romescos, who advances to Mr. Seabrook, and, after a minute's
hesitation, takes the little girl in his arms, rudely kissing her as
she presses his face from her with her left hand, and poutingly
wipes her mouth with her right.
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