He merely waited until she had grown somewhat calmer, and then, in a tone of great kindness, but with much firmness and decision, replied, "that he was not angry with her; that he knew she had been very faithful in her kind care of his wife and child, and he should always take care of her, and see that she was made comfortable as long as she lived; but, for reasons which he did not think necessary to explain, he considered it best to separate her from Elsie for a time; he knew it would be hard for them both, but it _must_ be done, and tears and entreaties would be utterly useless; she must prepare to go to her new home that very afternoon." So saying he dismissed her, and she went back to Elsie's room wellnigh heart-broken; and there the little girl found her when she came in from school duties, sitting beside the trunk she had just finished packing, crying and sobbing as she had never seen her before.
"Oh, mammy, mammy! what _is_ the matter?
_dear_ old mammy, what ails you ?" she asked, running to her, and throwing her arms around her neck.
Chloe clasped her to her breast, sobbing out that she must leave her.
"Massa Horace was going to send her away from her precious child." Elsie was fairly stunned by the announcement, and for a moment could not speak one word.

To be separated from her beloved nurse who had always taken care of her!--who seemed almost necessary to her existence.

It was such a calamity as even her worst fears had never suggested, for they never had been parted, even for a single day; but wherever the little girl went, if to stay more than a few hours, her faithful attendant had always accompanied her, and she had never thought of the possibility of doing without her.
She unclasped her arms from Chloe's neck, disengaging herself from her loving grasp, stood for a moment motionless and silent; then, suddenly sinking down upon her nurse's lap, again wound her arms about her neck, and hid her face on her bosom, sobbing wildly: "Oh, mammy, mammy! you shall not go! Stay with me, mammy! I've nobody to love me now but you, and my heart will break if you leave me.

Oh, mammy, say that you won't go!" Chloe could not speak, but she took the little form again in her arms, and pressed it to her bosom in a close and fond embrace, while they mingled their tears and sobs together.
But Elsie started up suddenly.
"I will go to papa!" she exclaimed; "I will beg him on my knees to let you stay! I will tell him it will kill me to be parted from my dear old mammy." "'Tain't no use, darlin'! Massa Horace, he say I _must_ go; an' you know what dat means, well as I do," said Chloe, shaking her head mournfully; "he won't let me stay, nohow." "But I must try, mammy," Elsie answered, moving toward the door.

"I think papa loves me a little yet, and maybe he will listen." But she met a servant in the hall who told her that her father had gone out, and that she heard him say he would not return before tea-time.
And Chloe was to go directly after dinner; so there was no hope of a reprieve, nothing to do but submit as best they might to the sad necessity of parting; and Elsie went back to her room again, to spend the little time that remained in her nurse's arms, sobbing out her bitter grief upon her breast.