'But what am I to do? You yourself, Joe, would not have all this made public. You've as much pride about it as I have.' 'I've not a bit of pride about it, father; and it's public now. Everybody knows it, and everybody says you ought to cut her adrift.' 'What had I better do? Tell me, my friend,' said Preston, still walking the room. 'I cannot advise, you, Preston. An outsider should express no opinion on such matters.' In a moment Preston said: 'Well, Joe, no more of this now. I'll do what is right, however much it may wound my pride.' The conversation turned to other subjects, till Mrs. Preston's return from church, shortly after which dinner was announced. The lady presided at the table with as much ease and grace as if she had been born to the position; and in her charming conversation, I almost forgot the revelations of the morning. The rest of the day I spent with Joe and Frank, strolling over the plantation and mingling among the negroes, who, freed from work, were enjoying themselves in a very 'miscellaneous manner.' Preston remained at the house with Selma. CHAPTER XVII. It was nearly dark when we returned to the mansion. Looking in at the parlor, and not finding his father there, Joe led the way at once to the library. The door was ajar, and, as we entered the passage way, loud voices were issuing from it. 'I tell you, Mr. Preston, I am mistress of this plantation. He shall NOT go!' 'Pardon me, madam, he _shall_, and to-night,' returned a mild but decided voice, which I recognized as Preston's. Being unwilling to overhear more, I turned away, but Joe caught me by the arm, exclaiming: 'If you are my father's friend, go in. If you don't, he will back down; he has done so forty times.' Preston was a man of more than ordinary firmness, but his wife had the stronger will. She seemed possessed of a sort of magnetic power, which enabled her to control others almost arbitrarily. Reluctantly I followed the young man into the room. Preston was seated before the fire; and Selma, with her arm around his neck, was standing near him. Mulock, better clad than when I witnessed his purchase by the 'fast' young planter, and wearing a sullen, dogged expression, was leaning against the centre table; and Mrs. Preston, gesticulating wildly, and her face glowing with mingled rage and defiance, stood within a few feet of her husband. Not heeding our entrance, she exclaimed: 'I _will_ have my way. If you send him off, I will never darken your doors again.' 'That is as you please, madam,' replied Preston. 'Mr. Kirke and Frank, pray be seated.' Stung by her husband's coolness, the lady turned fiercely upon Joe, and, shaking her clenched hand in his face, cried out: 'This is _your_ work. I will teach you better than to meddle with my affairs.' * * * * *