Heavens! can I ever forget the princely air with which he uttered these words! His swarthy cheek glowed with a beautiful crimson, and his rich eye fairly blazed with the fire of a seven-times heated soul, whilst the thin lip curled and the fine nostril dilated, and the whole form towered supremely in the majesty of erect and perfect manhood! "Hush, Charley, hush," I urged, "this is no place for the expression of such sentiments, just and noble as they may be." Again Henry pressed my hand. "It may be imprudent, Ann, but I am reckless now. They have done the worst they can do. I defy the sharpest dagger-point. My breast is open to a thousand spears. They can do no more. But how can you, Henry, thus supinely sit by and see yourself robbed of your life's treasure? I cannot understand it. Are you lacking in manliness, in courage? Are you a coward, a _slave_ indeed?" "Do not listen to him; leave now, Henry, dear, dear Henry," I implored, as I observed the singular expression of his face. "Go now, dearest, without saying another word; for my sake go. You will not refuse me?" "No, I will not, dear Ann; but there is a fire raging in my veins." "Yes, and Charley is the incendiary. Go, I beg you." With a long, fond kiss, he left me, and it was well he did, for in a moment more Mr. Atkins came to give the order for retiring. I found a very comfortable mattress and covering, on the floor of a good, neatly-carpeted room, which was occupied by five other women. One of them, a gay girl of about fifteen, a full-blooded African, made her pallet close to mine. I had observed her during the day as a garrulous, racketty sort of baggage, that seemed contented with her situation. She was extremely neat in her dress; and her ebony skin had a rich, oily, shiny look, resembling the perfect polish of Nebraska blacking on an exquisite's boot. Partly from their own superiority, but chiefly from contrast with her complexion, shone white as mountain snow, a regular row of ivory teeth. Her large flabby ears were adorned by huge wagon-wheel rings of pinch-beck, and a cumbersome strand of imitation coral beads adorned her inky throat, whilst her dress was of the gaudiest colors, plaided in large bars. Thus decked out, she made quite a figure in the assemblage. "Is yer name Ann?" she unceremoniously asked. "Yes," was my laconic reply. "Mine is Lucy; but they calls me Luce fur short." No answer being made, she garrulously went on: "Was that yer husband what comed to see you this evenin'?" "No." "Your brother?" "No." "Your cousin?" "Neither." "Well, he's too young-lookin' fur yer father. Mought he be yer uncle?" "No." "Laws, then he mus' be yer sweetheart!" and she chuckled with mirth. I made no answer. "Why don't you talk, Ann?" "I don't feel like it." "You don't? well, that's quare." Still I made no comment. Nothing daunted, she went on: "Is yer gwine down the river with the next lot?"