"Your uncle will permit anything that I choose to do," retorted Madame angrily, and the girl knew that she spoke truly. Mr. Vance yielded to his wife in everything. "And listen, girl! I dare anything that I choose to do. I am sick of your puritanical ways, and I have resolved to change them. Why did you return if you were not of our way of thinking? Why did you not stay with 'Beast' Butler since you agree so well? Speak, girl! why did you come back?" "I--I--because----" Jeanne was unable to proceed. The question was so unexpected that she was not prepared to answer it. "Aha!" and Madame regarded her keenly. "I see. You came back to spy upon us. Deny it if you can." Then as the girl made no reply she called: "Feliciane, Feliciane!" The woman entered the room. "Take this girl to the strong room," she commanded. "Don't dare to touch me," cried Jeanne springing away from the woman. "I will tell General Butler of this." "So?" and Madame's face became purple with rage. "You admit it. I thought as much. You have returned as a spy. Oh, he boasts of having his creatures in every household, but he has a de la Chaise to deal with in me. Away with her, Feliciane!" In vain Jeanne struggled and cried out against the indignity. She was helpless in the hands of the muscular negress, and was soon carried struggling and screaming to the top floor of the house, and pushed unceremoniously into a room, the door closed and locked upon her. "Foh de land sake, lill' missy, what you doin' heah?" came in a hoarse whisper and Jeanne turned to see the face of Snowball peering at her. "Snowball, are you here?" she cried stifling her sobs and trying to penetrate the gloom of the darkened chamber. "Yes, missy, I is. Dey allers puts us in heah aftah we's whipped. But how kum you heah? You wuzn't whipped, wuz yer?" "No;" and Jeanne seated herself by the prostrate form of the girl and took her hand. "I would rather have been than to do what I did yesterday." She told the darky how Madame had beguiled her into taking the trip to the Confederates, and of her subsequent arrest and discharge. "I hopes dis Butler will help yer ef de missus got a grudge agin yer," muttered Snowball. "An' she sut'n'ly hab got one elsen she wouldn't put yer in dis place whar we niggas is put. Why, missy, dis ain't no place foh yer." "But you have to stay here, Snowball. I ought to stand it if you do. I wish there was some way to get word to General Butler. He would take me from here I know." "Dere won't be no way, missy," said Snowball with melancholy conviction as Jeanne sprang to her feet and began a hurried inspection of the room. "Missus wouldn't leab a mouse hole ef she thought it could be used."