Supper was soon over, when my hostess rose and conducted me to the library. That apartment was in an L, detached from the mansion, and communicating with it by a covered passage way. It was plainly furnished, but had a cosy, homelike appearance. Its four walls were lined with books, some standing on end, some resting on their sides, and some leaning negligently against each other; and over the massive centre table were scattered open volumes, old newspapers, and unfinished manuscripts, in most delightful confusion. A half dozen old-fashioned chairs straggled about the floor, as if they did not know exactly what to do with themselves, and a score of old worthies--their faces white as chalk, and their long hair and beards powdered with a whole generation of dust, looked complacently down from the top of the bookshelves. Dust was on the table, on the chairs, on the floor, on the ceiling, and on the musty old volumes ranged along the walls, and dust everywhere told unmistakably that no profane hand ever disturbed the dusty repose which reigned in the apartment. Two or three oaken logs, supported on bright brass andirons--the only bright things in the room--were blazing cheerfully on the broad hearthstone; and drawing our chairs near, we sat down before them. 'May I come in?' said master Joe, thrusting his head in at the half-closed doorway. 'No, my son,' answered his father; 'Mr. Kirke and I are to talk over business matters.' 'Do let him come, Robert,' said Mrs. Preston; 'he is old enough to learn something of such affairs.' The lad entered, and seating himself on a low stool by the side of his mother, and burying his head in her lap, was soon fast asleep. 'This room, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'is sacred to Robert and the dust. I beg you will not think I have the care of it.' 'Oh no, madam; it is plain that a _man_ has exclusive dominion here; but your husband has been away from it for some time.' 'That does not account for the dust; it hasn't been stirred for a twelve-month;' and after a pause, she added, a thin moisture glistening in her eyes, 'I have not yet thanked you, sir, for saving Phyllis and the children from the clutches of that wretched trader.' 'No thanks are requisite, madam. It was a mere matter of business; we are in the practice of making advances to our consignors.' 'Nevertheless we thank you, sir; Robert and I will ever be grateful for it.' 'Do not speak of it, madam; I would be glad to serve you to a much greater extent.' The lady made no reply, and a rather embarrassing silence followed for some minutes, when I said: 'Preston, Joe is a remarkable negro; I think I never met one so intelligent and well informed.' 'He _is_ very intelligent,' he replied; 'he has fine natural abilities.' 'It is a pity Nature gave him so dark a skin, and made him a--slave.'