"What's the matter my darling?" said Mrs. Hartright, throwing her arms around her daughter's waist. "I was so troubled about you. What kept you out so late, Emily?" "Wait, mother, until I have rested and composed myself, then I will explain," answered Emily, softly. Ben had sank into a chair and sat with his chin resting upon the palm of his hand. Emily sat upon the side of the bed. "Men go night after night," she said, "stay as long as they please, and return in whatever condition they please; and to queries of their wives, they are evasive in their answers; but when a woman takes the privilege of exercising her rights--" "_Her rights_," roared Ben, jumping to his feet. "A lady goes out of her residence, leaves her servant and relatives in ignorance of her destination, returns at four o' clock in the morning to tell anxious husband and mother about _her rights_! We'll have a direct explanation from you, Mrs. Hartright, without preambling." "I'll not be bullied, Ben Hartright," answered the young wife calmly. "Remember that when you married _me_, you didn't marry a chambermaid or housekeeper, but a lady of one of the first families of Virginia, and such people brook _no bullying_," and Emily arose and glared at her husband like a tigress. Ben Hartright quailed. Never had he seen his little wife in such a state of anger and defiance. "If you are man enough to reveal your whereabouts until the small hours of the morning, you can tell where your wife was." Ben Hartright raised his eyes from the floor and looked at his wife in amazement. "When you entered the house of your mistress, Molly Pierrepont, to-night, I saw you. I, your _wife_, whom _you_ swore to honor and protect, saw you. She saw you embrace and kiss a Negro woman, the woman of a race whom you pretend to despise, and whom you and your pals are secretly scheming to cold bloodedly murder and drive from their homes. Take care! God knows your hypocrisy and the deeds you commit will recoil upon your own heads." "Emily, are you mad?" gasped the elder lady who stood as if transfixed to the floor. "Ask him," returned the young lady, "he knows whether or not I utter the truth, or whether I am a victim of a beclouded brain. He knows that he has wronged me; he knows that he has lied to me. I care not for your frowns. _You_ a gentleman? You hate Niggers, yet you can embrace one so fondly. I will no longer live with such a gentleman, who night after night under the excuse of 'clubs' and 'business' spends his time away from his wife, and in company of a Negro woman. I am going home to my people." "Now, Emily," said the elder Mrs. Hartright, "don't start a scandal; remember that you are a Southerner. Southern people do not countenance the airing of unpleasant family matters!"