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fell back before me in embarrassment； as though in the
presence of rival mistresses； I asked； in imperious tones：
'Who is this person？'
A slave girl； to whom I had been kind； whispered in my ear to
have a care； for that was Madam Mendizabal； but the name was
new to me。
In the meanwhile the woman； applying a pair of glasses to her
eyes； studied me with insolent particularity from head to
foot。
'Young woman；' said she； at last； 'I have had a great
experience in refractory servants； and take a pride in
breaking them。 You really tempt me； and if I had not other
affairs； and these of more importance； on my hand； I should
certainly buy you at your father's sale。'
'Madam … ' I began； but my voice failed me。
'Is it possible that you do not know your position？' she
returned； with a hateful laugh。 'How comical！ Positively； I
must buy her。 Accomplishments； I suppose？' she added；
turning to the servants。
Several assured her that the young mistress had been brought
up like any lady； for so it seemed in their inexperience。
'She would do very well for my place of business in Havana；'
said the Senora Mendizabal； once more studying me through her
glasses； 'and I should take a pleasure；' she pursued； more
directly addressing myself； 'in bringing you acquainted with
a whip。' And she smiled at me with a savoury lust of cruelty
upon her face。
At this； I found expression。 Calling by name upon the
servants； I bade them turn this woman from the house； fetch
her to the boat； and set her back upon the mainland。 But
with one voice； they protested that they durst not obey；
coming close about me； pleading and beseeching me to be more
wise； and； when I insisted； rising higher in passion and
speaking of this foul intruder in the terms she had deserved；
they fell back from me as from one who had blasphemed。 A
superstitious reverence plainly encircled the stranger； I
could read it in their changed demeanour； and in the paleness
that prevailed upon the natural colour of their faces； and
their fear perhaps reacted on myself。 I looked again at
Madam Mendizabal。 She stood perfectly composed； watching my
face through her glasses with a smile of scorn； and at the
sight of her assured superiority to all my threats； a cry
broke from my lips； a cry of rage； fear； and despair； and I
fled from the verandah and the house。
I ran I knew not where； but it was towards the beach。 As I
went； my head whirled； so strange； so sudden； were these
events and insults。 Who was she？ what； in Heaven's name； the
power she wielded over my obedient negroes？ Why had she
addressed me as a slave？ why spoken of my father's sale？ To
all these tumultuary questions I could find no answer； and in
the turmoil of my mind； nothing was plain except the hateful
leering image of the woman。
I was still running； mad with fear and anger； when I saw my
father coming to meet me from the landing…place； and with a
cry that I thought would have killed me； leaped into his arms
and broke into a passion of sobs and tears upon his bosom。
He made me sit down below a tall palmetto that grew not far
off； comforted me； but with some abstraction in his voice；
and as soon as I regained the least command upon my feelings；
asked me； not without harshness； what this grief betokened。
I was surprised by his tone into a still greater measure of
composure； and in firm tones； though still interrupted by
sobs； I told him there was a stranger in the island； at which
I thought he started and turned pale； that the servants would
not obey me； that the stranger's name was Madam Mendizabal；
and； at that； he seemed to me both troubled and relieved；
that she had insulted me； treated me as a slave （and here my
father's brow began to darken）； threatened to buy me at a
sale； and questioned my own servants before my face； and
that； at last； finding myself quite helpless and exposed to
these intolerable liberties； I had fled from the house in
terror； indignation； and amazement。
'Teresa；' said my father； with singular gravity of voice； 'I
must make to…day a call upon your courage； much must be told
you； there is much that you must do to help me； and my
daughter must prove herself a woman by her spirit。 As for
this Mendizabal； what shall I say？ or how am I to tell you
what she is？ Twenty years ago； she was the loveliest of
slaves； to…day she is what you see her … prematurely old；
disgraced by the practice of every vice and every nefarious
industry； but free； rich； married； they say； to some
reputable man； whom may Heaven assist！ and exercising among
her ancient mates； the slaves of Cuba； an influence as
unbounded as its reason is mysterious。 Horrible rites； it is
supposed； cement her empire： the rites of Hoodoo。 Be that
as it may； I would have you dismiss the thought of this
incomparable witch； it is not from her that danger threatens
us； and into her hands； I make bold to promise； you shall
never fall。'
'Father！' I cried。 'Fall？ Was there any truth； then； in her
words？ Am I … O father； tell me plain； I can bear anything
but this suspense。'
'I will tell you；' he replied； with merciful bluntness。
'Your mother was a slave； it was my design； so soon as I had
saved a competence； to sail to the free land of Britain；
where the law would suffer me to marry her： a design too
long procrastinated； for death； at the last moment；
intervened。 You will now understand the heaviness with which
your mother's memory hangs about my neck。'
I cried out aloud； in pity for my parents； and in seeking to
console the survivor； I forgot myself。
'It matters not；' resumed my father。 'What I have left
undone can never be repaired； and I must bear the penalty of
my remorse。 But； Teresa； with so cutting a reminder of the
evils of delay； I set myself at once to do what was still
possible： to liberate yourself。'
I began to break forth in thanks； but he checked me with a
sombre roughness。
'Your mother's illness；' he resumed； 'had engaged too great a
portion of my time； my business in the city had lain too long
at the mercy of ignorant underlings； my head； my taste； my
unequalled knowledge of the more precious stones； that art by
which I can distinguish； even on the darkest night； a
sapphire from a ruby； and tell at a glance in what quarter of
the earth a gem was disinterred … all these had been too long
absent from the conduct of affairs。 Teresa； I was
insolvent。'
'What matters that？' I cried。 'What matters poverty； if we
be left together with our love and sacred memories？'
'You do not comprehend；' he said gloomily。 'Slave； as you
are； young … alas！ scarce more than child！ … accomplished；
beautiful with the most touching beauty； innocent as an angel
… all these qualities that should disarm the very wolves and
crocodiles； are； in the eyes of those to whom I stand
indebted； commodities to buy and sell。 You are a chattel； a
marketable thing； and worth … heavens； that I should say such
words！ … worth money。 Do you begin to see？ If I were to
give you freedom； I should defraud my cred