n you--and how
you try to cotch young Mas'r Durward, who hate the sight on you--how
you waylay him one day, settin' on a rock out by the big gate--and
how you been seen mighty nigh fifty times comin' home afoot from
Captain Atherton's in the night, rainin' thunder and lightnin' hard
as it could pour--how after you done got Miss Anna to 'lope, you ax
Captain Atherton to have you, and git mad as fury 'cause he
'fuses--and how your mother warn't none too likely, and a heap more
that I can't remember--hain't you heard of none on't?"

"None, none," answered 'Lena, while Milly continued, "It's a sin and
shame for quality folks that belong to the meetin' to pitch into a
poor 'fenseless girl and pick her all to pieces. Reckon they done
forgot what our Heabenly Marster told 'em when he lived here in old
Kentuck, how they must dig the truck out of thar own eyes afore they
go to meddlin' with others; but they never think of him these days,
'cept Sundays, and then as soon as meetin' is out they done git
together and talk about you and Mas'r Graham orfully. I hearn 'em
last Sunday, I and Miss Fontaine's cook, Cilly, and if they don't
quit it, thar's a heap on us goin' to leave the church!"

'Lena smiled in spite of herself, and when Milly, who arose to leave
the room, again told her not to care, as all the blacks were for her,
she felt that she was not utterly alone in her wretchedness. Still,
the sympathy of the colored people alone could not help her, and
dally matters grew worse, until at last even Nellie Douglass's faith
was shaken, and 'Lena's heart died within her as she saw in her signs
of neglect. Never had Mr. Livingstone exchanged a word with her upon
the subject, but the reserve with which he treated her plainly
indicated that he, too, was prejudiced, while her aunt and Carrie let
no opportunity pass of slighting her, the latter invariably leaving
the room if she entered it. On one such occasion, in a state
bordering almost on distraction 'Lena flew back to her own chamber,
where to her great surprise, she found her uncle in close
conversation with her grandmother, whose face told the pain his words
were inflicting. 'Lena's first impulse was to fall at his feet and
implore his protection, but he prevented her by immediately leaving
the room.

"Oh, grandmother, grandmother," she cried, "help me, or I shall die."

In her heart Mrs. Nichols believed her guilty, for John had said
so--he would not lie; and to 'Lena'