s love and his hatred before you, while with me he
indulges them. He must remain with you, in order to command his
passions. He inherited them from me; and I must thus far help him to
master them. You are all-powerful with him. I have no power."

"You mean that Genifrede and I together are all-powerful with him. I
believe it is so."

"To you, then, I commit him. Moyse is henceforth your son."

"As Genifrede is your daughter, Paul. If I die before the peace of the
island is secured, there are two duties which I assign to you--to
support the spirit of the blacks, and to take my Genifrede for your
daughter. The rest of my family love each other, and the world we live
in. She loves only Moyse."

"She is henceforth my child. But when will you marry them?"

"When Moyse shall have done some act to distinguish himself--for which
he shall not want opportunity. I have a higher duty than that to my
family--it is my duty to call out all the powers of every black. Moyse
must therefore prove what he can do, before he can marry his love. For
him, however, this is an easy condition."

"I doubt not you are right, brother; but it is well for me that the days
of my love are past."

"Not so, Paul. The honour of your race must now be your love. For this
you must show what you can do."

They had paced the northern piazza while conversing. They now turned
into the eastern, where they came upon the lovers, who were standing
half shrouded by creeping plants--Moyse's arm round Genifrede's waist,
and Genifrede's head resting on her lover's shoulder. The poor girl was
sobbing violently, while Moyse was declaring that he would marry her,
with or without consent, and carry her with him, if he was henceforth to
live in the east of the island.

"Patience, foolish boy!" cried his father. "You go not with me. I
commit you to my brother. You will stay with him, and yield him the
duty of a son--a better duty than we heard you planning just now."

"As soon as you prove yourself worthy, you shall be my son indeed," said
Toussaint. "I have heard your plans of marriage. You shall hear mine.
I will give you opportunities of distinguishing yourself, in the
services of the city and of the field. After the first act which proves
you worthy of responsibility, I will give you Genifrede. As a free man,
can you desire more?"

"I am satisfied--I am grateful," said Moyse. "I believe I spoke some
hasty words just now; but we suppose