gs as these:--

"Yes, it has been mentioned in the _Times_ even, such a peculiarly
horrid thing, you know, poor man." "Just like a savage. Oh! it's all
very well to talk of Indians being civilized, but I am quite convinced
they never are, really. And then, you see, the real nature breaks out
when they are provoked."

Some more reasonable person would suggest, "But they say that at Moose
Island Mr. Strafford has done wonders;" and he answered,

"Ah! 'they say.' It is so easy to _say_ anything. Why, this very man, or
brute, comes from Moose Island!"

"Does he? But, of course, there must be some bad. Let us ask Miss
Costello. She knows Mr. Strafford."

And Lucia would have to command her face and her voice, and say, "I only
know by report. I believe Mr. Strafford's people are all more or less
civilized."

Sometimes she would hear this crime used as an argument in favour of
driving the Indians further back, and depriving them of their best
lands, for the benefit of that white race which had generously left them
here and there a mile or two of their native soil; sometimes as a proof
that to care for or instruct them, was waste of time and money;
sometimes only as a text whereon to hang a dozen silly speeches, which
stung none the less for their silliness; and it was but a poor
compensation for all she thus suffered when some one would speak out
heartily and with knowledge, in defence of her father's people.

She said not a word to her mother of these small but bitter annoyances;
only found herself longing sometimes for the time when, at whatever
cost, her secret might be known, and she be free. In the meantime,
however, Mrs. Bellairs guessed nothing of the result of her kindness;
for Lucia, feeling how short a time might separate her for ever from
this dear friend, was more affectionate than usual in her manner, and
had sometimes a wistful look in her beautiful eyes, which might mean
sorrow, either past or future, but had no shadow of irritation.

Mr. Strafford came up to Cacouna twice during Christian's imprisonment.
The first time he found no particular change. A low fever still seemed
to hang about the prisoner, and his passionate longing for the free air
to be his strongest feeling. There was no improvement mentally. His
brain, once cultivated and active, far beyond the standard of his race,
seemed quite dead; it was impossible to make him understand either the
past or future, his crime (if he were guilty), or h