s wrong," said the woman, standing before him with the downcast
look learned in her early bondage. "It was wounded love, not anger,
against you, my master, that tortured me into this rash language. I came
to tell you of L----of our child; she is very, very ill."

"What, Lina? poor child, no wonder she is heart-broken. Heaven knows I
would have kept this miserable secret from her, but for Ralph! Where is
she now?"

"In my own house, raving with brain fever!"

"And have you told her all?"

"Yes, and she, too, spurned me--every one repulses and scorns me, while
that woman"----

"Hush! Zillah, you are getting fierce again, and that I will not submit
to."

"No, no, master, it was grief for my child, not anger," said the woman,
checking herself. "She is ill, very ill. The doctor thinks she must
die."

"Indeed, I am grieved to hear it. Let her have every care; have a dozen
physicians, if it is needful. Poor child--poor child!"

"You love her, then, this daughter of a slave?" said Zillah, with a
fierce gleam in her eyes, as if jealous of his very love for her own
child.

"Love her? Why she has always been a pet in the house--a beautiful,
sweet-tempered creature, whom everyone loved. I think she is even dearer
to me than Ralph himself."

Again the woman turned white.

"And you love her so much?"

"Again, Zillah: you are hard to please; but take good care of the
child--in a day or two I will come to see her!"

"Indeed, to see her--her only."

"Have done with this paltry childishness, I am tired of it!" answered
the General, with authority. "This comes of allowing you a foothold
here. Remember I cannot have my privacy intruded on in future by these
mysterious visits; they will become known to the family, and Mrs.
Harrington may think them a just cause of complaint--a thing above all
others to be avoided. I tell you, Zillah, this rash passion, which at
your age should be controlled, inconveniences me very much; indeed, as a
man of honor, I cannot encourage it farther."

Zillah's lips writhed, as if she were repeating over his last words in
the scorn of her heart; but she stood immovable and silent, with her
eyes bent on the floor.

"If money is needed for you or Lina, whose future I will liberally
provide for, that can at any time be supplied to the extent of your
wishes."

"I shall not need your money," answered the woman coldly.

"But you cannot be rich!"

"The master to whom you sold me left his proper