"Ef I must speak, I must," she said. "No,--I neber did tink 'twas right. When Gineral Washington was here, I hearn 'em read de Declaration ob Independence and Bill o' Rights; an' I tole Cato den, says I, 'Ef dat ar' true, you an' I are as free as anybody.' It stands to reason. Why, look at me,--I a'n't a critter. I's neider huffs nor horns. I's a reasonable bein',--a woman,--as much a woman as anybody," she said, holding up her head with an air as majestic as a palm-tree;--"an' Cato,--he's a man, born free an' equal, ef dar's any truth in what you read,--dat's all." "But, Candace, you've always been contented and happy with us, have you not?" said Mr. Marvyn. "Yes, Mass'r,--I ha'n't got nuffin to complain ob in dat matter. I couldn't hab no better friends 'n you an' Missis." "Would you like your liberty, if you could get it, though?" said Mr. Marvyn, "Answer me honestly." "Why, to be sure I should! Who wouldn't? Mind ye," she said, earnestly raising her black, heavy hand, "'ta'n't dat I want to go off, or want to shirk work; but I want to _feel free_. Dem dat isn't free has nuffin to gib to nobody;--dey can't show what dey would do." "Well, Candace, from this day you are free," said Mr. Marvyn, solemnly. Candace covered her face with both her fat hands, and shook and trembled, and, finally, throwing her apron over her head, made a desperate rush for the door, and threw herself down in the kitchen in a perfect tropical torrent of tears and sobs. "You see," said the Doctor, "what freedom is to every human creature. The blessing of the Lord will be on this deed, Mr. Marvyn. 'The steps of a just man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.'" At this moment, Candace reappeared at the door, her butterfly turban somewhat deranged with the violence of her prostration, giving a whimsical air to her portly person. "I want ye all to know," she said, with a clearing-up snuff, "dat it's my will an' pleasure to go right on doin' my work jes' de same; an', Missis, please, I'll allers put three eggs in de crullers, now; an' I won't turn de wash-basin down in de sink, but hang it jam-up on de nail; an' I won't pick up chips in a milkpan, ef I'm in ever so big a hurry;--I'll do eberyting jes' as ye tells me. Now you try me an' see ef I won't!" Candace here alluded to some of the little private wilfulnesses which she had always obstinately cherished as reserved rights, in pursuing domestic matters with her mistress. "I intend," said Mr. Marvyn, "to make the same offer to your husband, when he returns from work to-night." "Laus, Mass'r,--why, Cato he'll do jes' as I do,--dere a'n't no kind o' need o' askin' him. 'Course he will."