sworn love to you, I will. Sometime, my boy, when I
may greatly need a friend to help me through a trouble or sorrow that is
coming upon me--when those that know me may shun me--you, who love me,
will be that friend. May I rely upon you?"

"Depend upon me?--yes, truly, Wilkins--in anything that's right."

Guly's heart was racked with more sorrowful anxiety for his brother than
he could, or cared to, express; but in spite of his efforts to restrain
them, the bright tears fell down his cheeks at Wilkins' kind words, and
dropped upon the broad breast which supported him. Wilkins raised his
hand, and wiped them away.

"Don't cry, Guly; your grief unmans me."

"Oh, Wilkins, how can I help it?"

Wilkins answered nothing, but drew the slight form closer in silent
sympathy. The hours went on, and midnight still saw them sitting there
together--the golden head upon the broad, kind breast, and the eyes of
both looking thoughtfully into the coals.

CHAPTER XVII.

"She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore to be won."

Henry VI.

----"Bright
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men;
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
Music arose, with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again,
And all went merry as a marriage bell."

Childe Harold.

Della sat in her large chair, before the dressing-glass, with her
delicate feet buried in the rich softness of a velvet cushion; her hands
were folded in her lap, and her eyes fixed upon Minny's face, which was
clearly reflected in the mirror, as she stood behind her mistress,
arranging the shining bands of long fair hair.

"Minny, how very, _very_ white you are! How came you to be so white,
when your mother is the blackest slave papa owns?"

A scarlet flush rose to the quadroon's cheek.

"My father, Miss, was as white as your own."

"Were you born here, Minn?"

"My mother was in your father's service when she gave me birth, Miss
Della. Will you have your bandeaux single or double for this evening?"

"Double, Minn, so the wreath can lie nicely in between; and make those
braids as rich as possible. I wish to look my best to-night. You have
always lived here since you were born, Minn?--was a baby when I was a
baby?"

"Yes, my dear Miss, and my mother was your nurse; your own mother not
liking to spoil her figure by nursing her child, y