"The girl will not be improved by that treatment," she said.

"Go and bring her to me." As soon as the intendant had left the room, she exclaimed, turning to her husband, "One may well be perplexed about these poor creatures, when one sees how they behave to each other.

I have seen it a thousand times! No judgment is so hard as that dealt by a slave to slaves!" Jethro and a woman now led Miriam into the room.

The girl's hands were bound with thick cords, and dry grass clung to her dress and rough black hair.

A dark fire glowed in her eyes, and the muscles of her face moved incessantly, as if she had St.Vitus' dance.