that
displeased you, do anything to punish me save sending me from you. What
would my freedom be to me away from you? Miss Della, you will never know
how poor Minn loves you."

The girl had spoken in such a subdued voice, uttering her short
sentences between the sobs that were trying to struggle up, that, as she
paused in her task, and looked in her mistress's face with an expression
of such tearful, doubtful anxiety on her features, Della was deeply
touched, and sat a moment with her handkerchief pressed to her eyes. She
took it down at last, and went on very calmly and thoughtfully.

"Minny, it is very painful for me to talk of this, but you must
understand me: I'm afraid I can never be quite happy again, with you
performing such offices as this for me. The discovery I made this
afternoon--that unfortunate discovery for both of us--was terrible--very
terrible!"

"Oh, Miss, that of all things you should have asked me that! I will
never, never remember it, if you will only forget it, and let me be to
you what I have ever been."

"I was right in what I suspected--I am sure I guessed the truth--you
must tell me now, Minny," said Della, taking one of Minny's hands in
hers, and speaking in a tone half doubtful that she might be wrong. "My
father was your father, _n'est ce pas_, dear Minny?"

Heedless of the kindness with which the words were spoken, Minny threw
up her hands with a gesture of despair, then flung herself full length
upon the floor, in a burst of passionate grief.

"Get up, Minny; get up, and come by me here; come!"

With the deep sobs still bursting from her lips, the girl rose, and sat,
with bowed head and falling tears, at her young mistress's feet.

"Minny, you understand me now, don't you? Think of it, Minny: you are my
sister!"

"Oh! none the less your slave, Miss."

"My father's child must never be a slave to me."

"Miss Della! Oh that this knowledge should have ever come to either of
us; don't for the love of mercy talk so; don't put me from you; what am
I but a negro's child, the fruit of the white man's sin?"

"I know, Minny, I know the world would never look upon this as I do; but
you are in my sight as much my sister as if my father had lost a first
wife and wedded again, and we were the fruits of the two marriages. The
same blood is in your veins that is in mine. He who gave you being, to
me is 'father,' to you is 'master.' You are more beautiful than I, as
well as better fitted fo