s which is
common to coarse and uninstructed minds. When Legree brought Emmeline to
the house, all the smouldering embers of womanly feeling flashed up in
the worn heart of Cassy, and she took part with the girl; and a fierce
quarrel ensued between her and Legree. Legree, in a fury, swore she
should be put to field service, if she would not be peaceable. Cassy,
with proud scorn, declared she _would_ go to the field. And she worked
there one day, as we have described, to show how perfectly she scorned
the threat.

Legree was secretly uneasy, all day; for Cassy had an influence over him
from which he could not free himself. When she presented her basket at
the scales, he had hoped for some concession, and addressed her in a
sort of half conciliatory, half scornful tone; and she had answered with
the bitterest contempt.

The outrageous treatment of poor Tom had roused her still more; and she
had followed Legree to the house, with no particular intention, but to
upbraid him for his brutality.

"I wish, Cassy," said Legree, "you'd behave yourself decently."

"_You_ talk about behaving decently! And what have you been doing?--you,
who haven't even sense enough to keep from spoiling one of your best
hands, right in the most pressing season, just for your devilish
temper!"

"I was a fool, it's a fact, to let any such brangle come up," said
Legree; "but, when the boy set up his will, he had to be broke in."

"I reckon you won't break _him_ in!"

"Won't I?" said Legree, rising, passionately. "I'd like to know if I
won't? He'll be the first nigger that ever came it round me! I'll break
every bone in his body, but he _shall_ give up!"

Just then the door opened, and Sambo entered. He came forward, bowing,
and holding out something in a paper.

"What's that, you dog?" said Legree.

"It's a witch thing, Mas'r!"

"A what?"

"Something that niggers gets from witches. Keeps 'em from feelin' when
they 's flogged. He had it tied round his neck, with a black string."

Legree, like most godless and cruel men, was superstitious. He took the
paper, and opened it uneasily.

There dropped out of it a silver dollar, and a long, shining curl
of fair hair,--hair which, like a living thing, twined itself round
Legree's fingers.

"Damnation!" he screamed, in sudden passion, stamping on the floor, and
pulling furiously at the hair, as if it burned him. "Where did this come
from? Take it off!--burn it up!--burn it up!" he screamed,