"I wouldn't hurt his feelings because he's not free, you know, and he
couldn't answer back," and the Major had said nothing more.
Now "Do you like him, Big Abel?" he inquired; and to the negro's "He's done
use me moughty well, suh," he said gravely, "Then he shall stay,
grandpa--and I'm sorry I cursed you, Harris," he added before he left the
field. He would always own that he was wrong, if he could once be made to
see it, which rarely happened.
"The boy's kind heart will save him, or he is lost," said the Governor,
sadly, as Dan tore by on his little pony, his black hair blown from his
face, his gray eyes shining.
"He has a kind heart, I know," returned Mrs. Ambler, gently; "the servants
and the animals adore him--but--but do you think it well for Betty to be
thrown so much with him? He is very wild, and they deny him nothing. I wish
she went with Champe instead--but what do you think?"
"I don't know, I don't know," answered the Governor, uneasily. "He told the
doctor to mind his own business, yesterday--and that is not unlike Betty,
herself, I am sorry to say--but this morning I saw him give his month's
pocket money to that poor free negro, Levi. I can't say, I really do not
know," his eyes followed Betty as she flew out to climb behind Dan on the
pony's back. "I wish it were Champe, myself," he added doubtfully.
For Betty--independent Betty--had become Dan's slave. Ever since the
afternoon of the burning woodpile, she had bent her stubborn little knees
to him in hero-worship.
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