paid him down with sorrow, _he_ has punished him; --
ha! ha!" and both she and her Gorgon-like guest
laughed a meaning and triumphant laugh, whilst
Amanda yet stood there to be baited by the brutish
man and the lost, revengeful woman, the latter of
whom thus continued to vent her spleen: "Mistress,
what are you but an English interloper? Girl, how
can we endure you? Do you not despise us? Do you
not insult, despoil, dishonor us? Do you not covet
our lands, do you not reap the taxes, take the trade?
Would you not all be Seigneurs? What shall we
give you that you have not already taken! Ah, out
upon you, my young mistress! Think it well if you
should not receive what I shall not now name to
you, -- your guardian's gift to many a maiden -- and
worse;" she added between her teeth; "death,
death," and turned away scowling.

"Return me to my home, or worse than death
awaits you;" cried Amanda; "endless infamy; hated
of our race, despised of yours, disowned by both."

But the woman by this time had begun to busy
herself in piling new logs upon the fire, and the colos-
sus, her companion, after having scanned the apart-
ment, seemingly to ascertain whether it was to be
trusted to retain the prisoner, at length, satisfied
with the result of his scrutiny, unlocked the door
with the key which he drew from his pocket, and
bestowing a bow of mock respect upon Amanda, who
affected not to perceive it, departed; and she, without
vouchsafing a look upon her feminine but callous
jailor, sank upon a chair in silence.

[[88]]

p087 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p088w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p089

v?