"
During these remarks, the old lady was walking up and down the room
like a caged lioness. She had learned from Isabella that she had
been purchased by Henry, and the innocence of the injured quadroon
caused her to acknowledge that he was the father of her child. Few
women could have taken such a matter in hand and carried it
through with more determination and success than old Mrs. Miller.
Completely inured in all the crimes and atrocities connected with
the institution of slavery, she was also aware that, to a greater
or less extent, the slave women shared with their mistress the
affections of their master. This caused her to look with a
suspicious eye on every good-looking negro woman that she saw.
While the old woman was thus lecturing her daughter upon her rights
and duties, Henry, unaware of what was transpiring, had left the
house and gone to his office. As soon as the old woman found that
he was gone, she said,--
"I will venture anything that he is on his way to see that wench
again. I'll lay my life on it."
The entrance, however, of little Marcus, or Mark, as he was
familiarly called, asking for Massa Linwood's blue bag, satisfied
her that her son-in-law was at his office. Before the old lady
returned home, it was agreed that Gertrude should come to her
mother's to tea that evening, and Henry with her, and that Mrs.
Miller should there charge the young husband with inconstancy to
her daughter, and demand the removal of Isabella.
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