260 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; OR,

‘Good theology, Tom; better than Dr. B. preaches, I dare
Swear,” said St. Clare. “

The conversation was here interrupted by the announcement of
some visitors.

Marie St. Clare felt the loss of Eva as deeply as she could feel
anything: and as she was a woman that had a great faculty of
making everybody unhappy when she was, her immediate attend-
ants had still stronger reason to regret the loss of their young
mistress, whose winning ways and gentle intercessions had so often
been a shield to them from the tyrannical and selfish exactions of
her mother. Poor old Mammy, in particular, whose heart, severed
from ali natural domestic ties, had consoled itself with this one
beautiful being, was almost heart-broken. She cried day and
night, aud was, from excess of sorrow, less skilful and alert in her
ministrations on her mistress than usual, which drew down a
constant storm of invectives on her defenceless head.

Miss Ophelia felt the loss ; but, inher good and honest heart,
it bore fruit unto everlasting life. She was more softened, more
gentle; and, though equally assiduous in every duty, it was with
a chastened and quiet air, as one who communed with her own
heart not in vain. She was more diligent in teaching Topsy—
taught her mainly from the Bible—did not any longer. shrink
from her touch, or manifest an ill-repressed disgust, because she
felt none. She viewed her now through the softened medium that
Eva's hand had first held before her eyes, and saw in her only an
immortal creature, whom God had sent to be led by her to glory
and virtue. Topsy did not become at once a saint: but the life
and death of Eva did work a marked change in her. The callous
indifference was gone; there was now sensibility, hope, desire, and
the striving for good—a strife regular, interrupted, suspended
oft, but yet renewed again.

One day, when Topsy had been sent for by Miss Ophelia, she
came, hastily thrusting something into her bosom.

‘‘ What are you doing there, you limb? You've been stealing
something, I'll be bound,” said the imperious little Rosa, who had
been sgnt to call her, seizing her, at the same time, roughly by
the arm. |
“You go ‘long, Miss Rosa!” said Topsy, pulling from her ;

't none o’ your business !”

“None o’ your sa’ce!” said Rosa. “I saw you hiding some-
thing—I know yer tricks,” and Rosa seized her arm, and tried to
force her hand into her bosom, while Topsy, enraged, kicked
and fought valiantly for what she considered her rights. The
clamour and confusion of the battle drew Miss Ophelia and St.
Clare both to the spot.

‘‘ She's been stealing!” said Rosa.

“I han't, neither !” vociferated Topsy, sobbing with passion.

“Give me that, whatever it is!’ said Miss Ophelia firmly.

6a 9,

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