He cannot divine what it is; his first suspicions being
aroused by missus saying Franconia had been waiting to see him.
"We must not call him Harry any longer-it doesn't become his
profession: now that he is Elder of my plantation flock, he must,
from this time, be called Elder!" says Rosebrook, touching him on
the arm with the right hand. And the two ladies joined in, that it
must be so. "Go into the parlour, ladies; I must say a word or two
to the Elder," continued Rosebrook, taking Harry by the arm, and
pacing through the hall into the conservatory at the back of the
house. Here, after ordering Harry to be seated, he recounts his plan
of emancipation, which, so far, has worked admirably, and, at the
time proposed, will, without doubt or danger, produce the hoped-for
result. "You, my good man," he says, "can be a useful instrument in
furthering my ends; I want you to be that instrument!" His negroes
have all an interest in their labour, which interest is preserved
for them in missus's savings-bank; and at a given time they are to
have their freedom, but to remain on the plantation if they choose,
at a stipulated rate of wages. Indeed, so strongly impressed with
the good results of his proposed system is Rosebrook, that he long
since scouted that contemptible fallacy, which must have had its
origin in the very dregs of selfishness, that the two races can only
live in proximity by one enslaving the other. Justice to each other,
he holds, will solve the problem of their living together; but,
between the oppressor and the oppressed, a volcano that may at any
day send forth its devouring flame, smoulders.
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