March 5.--My resolution is formed. This may be my last entry. I pray to God that it may be. I will trust in him and fly. At night they can not be watching me. There is a door at the north end, the key of which is always in it. I can steal out by that direction and gain my liberty. Oh Thou who hearest prayer, grant deliverance to the captive! Farewell now, my journal; I hope never to see you again! Yet I will secrete you in this chamber, for if I am compelled to return I may be glad to seek you again. March 6.--Not yet! Not yet! Alas! and since yesterday what things have happened! Last night I was to make my attempt. They dined at eight, and I waited for them to retire. I waited long. They were longer than usual. [Illustration: “OH!” CRIED MRS. COMPTON SUDDENLY, “OH, DON’T LOOK AT ME SO; DON’T LOOK AT ME SO!”] At about ten o’clock Mrs. Compton came into my room, with as frightened a face as usual. “They want you,” said she. I knew whom she meant. “Must I go?” said I. “Alas, dear child, what can you do? Trust in God. He can save you.” “He alone can save me,” said I, “if He will. It has come to this that I have none but Him in whom I can trust.” She began to weep. I said no more, but obeyed the command and went down. Since I was last there months had passed--months of suffering and anguish in body and mind. The remembrance of my last visit there came over me as I entered. Yet I did not tremble or falter. I crossed the threshold and entered the room, and stood before them in silence. I saw the three men who had been there before. _He_ and his son, and the man Clark, They had all been drinking. Their voices were loud and their laughter boisterous as I approached. When I entered they became quiet, and all three stared at me. At last _he_ said to his son, “She don’t look any fatter, does she, Johnnie?” “She gets enough to eat, any how,” answered John. “She’s one of them kind,” said the man Clark, “that don’t fatten up. But then, Johnnie, you needn’t talk--you haven’t much fat yourself, lad.” “Hard work,” said John, whereupon the others, thinking it an excellent joke, burst into hoarse laughter. This put them into great good-humor with themselves, and they began to turn their attention to me again. Not a word was said for some time. “Can you dance?” said he, at last, speaking to me abruptly. “Yes,” I answered. “Ah! I thought so. I paid enough for your education, any how. It would be hard if you hadn’t learned any thing else except squalling and banging on the piano.” I said nothing. “Why do you stare so, d--n you?” he cried, looking savagely at me. I looked at the floor. “Come now,” said he. “I sent for you to see if you can dance. Dance!” I stood still. “Dance!” he repeated with an oath. “Do you hear?” “I can not,” said I. “Perhaps you want a partner,” continued he, with a sneer. “Here, Johnnie, go and help her.” “I’d rather not,” said John. “Clark, you try it--you were always gay,” and he gave a hoarse laugh.