But with regard to the poor hunted man, I fear he is my father's freedman, the most faithful, honest soul! Did your exciting hunt drive any one out of the goldsmith's shop ?" Mary shook her head; then she asked: "Is it Hiram, the stammerer, the trainer, that they are hunting ?" "I fear it is." "Yes, yes," said the child.

"Stay--oh, dear! it will grieve you again, but I think--I think they said--the shoes belonged--but I did not attend.

However, they were talking of a groom--a freedman--a stammerer...." "Then they certainly are hunting down an innocent man," cried Paula with a deep sigh; and she sat down again in front of her toilet-table to finish dressing.

Her hands still moved mechanically, but she was lost in thought; she answered the child vaguely, and let her rummage in her open trunk till Mary pulled out the necklace that had been bereft of its gem, and hung it round her neck.

Just then there was a knock at the door and Katharina, the widow Susannah's little daughter, came into the room.
The young girl, to whom the governor's wife wished to marry her tall son scarcely reached to Paula's shoulder, but she was plump and pleasant to look upon; as neat as if she had just been taken out of a box, with a fresh, merry lovable little face.