t is straight and glossy as Mabel
Harrington's--not on my forehead, see how smooth it is--not in my heart
or brain, for when did an African ever have the mind to invent, or the
courage to carry out, the designs that fill my brain? I tell you, girl,
your mother has neither the look nor the soul of a slave; but she has
will, and power, and a purpose, too, that shall lift her child so high,
that the whitest woman of her father's race will yet be proud to render
her homage!"

"Dreaming, dreaming!" exclaimed Agnes, scornfully.

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

A STORMY PARTING.

Zillah drew her tall form to its full height.

"Dreaming!" she said. "No. This is the time for us to act; no, not
us--you shall have nothing of this but the advantage. You are my child,
his child, and I love you; therefore, let all the risk, and sin, and
pain be mine. You shall have nothing but the power and the gold. Listen,
girl, you should not marry James Harrington, now, though he wished it;
he is no match for you--he is penniless as this boy Ralph, your
half-brother. Do not shrink and look at me so wildly, but learn to hear
the truth. This boy is your brother, and his son; for that reason he
must not want, when you and I have our rights; out of the property which
was once James Harrington's, we must persuade the General to give the
young man a few thousands; as for James, let him remain the beggar his
romantic folly has left him.

"Agnes, your father, General Harrington--your father! impress the word
on your soul, child--your father is now master of everything; while he
lives, James Harrington is penniless. To-morrow, we shall reign in Mabel
Harrington's house. You look surprised, you ask me how all this has
been brought about. Listen: you remember the vellum book which you stole
for me, out of her escritoire. Well, it contained many secrets, but not
the one I wanted most--not enough to make Mabel Harrington an outcast. I
lived with her in her youth, and knew how much she loved this priestly
Harrington--and, when his mother died, hoped that he would marry her;
but she was too wealthy. The General wanted her money, and, in defiance
of my anger and my tears, made her his wife. I rebelled, threatened,
grew mad, and to save himself, this man, whom I loved better than my own
soul, persuaded me back to the plantation, and sold me! You turn pale,
even you look shocked. For a time, I could have torn him to atoms, like
a tiger when food is scarce; for th