prevent him from carrying out any purpose he had formed, if, as
in this case, he could persuade himself that he was doing right. And
so--all his arrangements being now made--the very morning after his late
interview with Elsie, Chloe was summoned to his presence.

He informed her of his purchase, and that it was his intention to send
her there to take charge of his house and servants, for the present.

Chloe, who was both extremely surprised and highly flattered by this
proof of her young master's confidence, looked very much delighted, as,
with a low courtesy, she expressed her thanks, and her willingness to
undertake the charge. But a sudden thought struck her, and she asked
anxiously if "her child" was to go with her.

Mr. Dinsmore said "_No_," very decidedly; and when Chloe told him that
that being the case, she would much rather stay where she was, if he
would let her, he said she could not have any choice in the matter; _she_
must go, and Elsie must stay.

Chloe burst into an agony of tears and sobs, begging to know why she was
to be separated from the child she had loved and cherished ever since her
birth; the child committed to her charge by her dying mother? What had
she done to so displease her master, that he had determined to subject
her to such a bitter trial?

Mr. Dinsmore was a good deal moved by her grief, but still not to be
turned from his purpose. He merely waited until she had grown somewhat
calmer, and then, in a tone of great kindness, but with much firmness and
decision, replied, "that he was not angry with her; that he knew she had
been very faithful in her kind care of his wife and child, and he should
always take care of her, and see that she was made comfortable as long as
she lived; but, for reasons which he did not think necessary to explain,
he considered it best to separate her from Elsie for a time; he knew it
would be hard for them both, but it _must_ be done, and tears and
entreaties would be utterly useless; she must prepare to go to her new
home that very afternoon."

So saying he dismissed her, and she went back to Elsie's room wellnigh
heart-broken; and there the little girl found her when she came in from
school duties, sitting beside the trunk she had just finished packing,
crying and sobbing as she had never seen her before.

"Oh, mammy, mammy! what _is_ the matter? _dear_ old mammy, what ails
you?" she asked, running to her, and throwing her arms around her neck.

Chloe