characterizes his white fellow-countrymen, Mr. Linwood very much
regretted that his daughter, although herself tinctured with African
blood, should have married a black man, and he did not fail to express
to her his dislike of her husband's complexion.

"I married him," said Clotelle, "because I loved him. Why should the
white man be esteemed as better than the black? I find no difference in
men on account of their complexion. One of the cardinal principles of
Christianity and freedom is the equality and brotherhood of man."

Every day Mr. Linwood became more and more familiar with Jerome, and
eventually they were on the most intimate terms.

Fifteen days from the time that Clotelle was introduced into her
father's room, they left Ferney for Geneva. Many were the excursions
Clotelle made under the shadows of Mont Blanc, and with her husband and
father for companions; she was now in the enjoyment of pleasures
hitherto unknown.

CHAPTER XXXV

THE FATHER'S RESOLVE.

Aware that her father was still a slave-owner, Clotelle determined to
use all her persuasive power to induce him to set them free, and in
this effort she found a substantial supporter in her husband.

"I have always treated my slaves well," said Mr. Linwood to Jerome, as
the latter expressed his abhorrence of the system; "and my neighbors,
too, are generally good men; for slavery in. Virginia is not like
slavery in the other States," continued the proud son of the Old
Dominion.

"Their right to be free, Mr. Linwood," said Jerome, "is taken from
them, and they have no security for their comfort, but the humanity and
generosity of men, who have been trained to regard them not as
brethren, but as mere property. Humanity and generosity are, at best,
but poor guaranties for the protection of those who cannot assert their
rights, and over whom law throws no protection."

It was with pleasure that Clotelle obtained from her father a promise
that he would liberate all his slaves on his return to Richmond. In a
beautiful little villa, situated in a pleasant spot, fringed with hoary
rocks and thick dark woods, within sight of the deep blue waters of
Lake Leman, Mr. Linwood, his daughter, and her husband, took up their
residence for a short time. For more than three weeks, this little
party spent their time in visiting the birth-place of Rousseau, and the
former abodes of Byron, Gibbon, Voltaire, De Stael, Shelley, and other
literary characters.

We can