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with Vincent。
He was well aware that the lad did not really like him； and that his
efforts to gain his good…will had failed； and he had foreseen that
sooner or later there would be a struggle for power between them。
However； he relied upon his influence with Mrs。 Wingfield； and
upon the fact that she was the life…owner of the Orangery； and
believed that he would be able to maintain his position even when
Vincent came of age。 Vincent on his side objected altogether to
the overseer's treatment of the hands； of which he heard a good
deal from Dan； and bad already remonstrated with his mother on
the subject。 He； however； gained nothing by this。 Mrs。 Wingfield
had replied that he was too young to interfere in such matters； that
his English ideas would not do in Virginia； and that naturally the
slaves were set against the overseer； and that now Pearson had no
longer a master to support him； he was obliged to be more severe
than before to enforce obedience。 At the same time it vexed her at
heart that there should be any severity on the Orangery estate；
where the best relations had always prevailed between the masters
and slaves； and she had herself spoken to Jonas on the subject。
He had given her the same answer that she had given her son： 〃The
slaves will work for a master； Mrs。 Wingfield； in a way they will
not for a stranger。 They set themselves against me； and if I were
not severe with them I should get no work at all cut of them。 Of
course； if you wish it； they can do as they like； but in that case they
must have another overseer。 I cannot see a fine estate going to
ruin。 I believe myself some of these Abolition fellows have been
getting among them and doing them mischief； and that there is a
bad spirit growing up among them。 I can assure you that I am as
lenient with them as is possible to be。 But if they won't work I
must make them； so long as I stay here。〃
And so the overseer had had his way。 She knew that the man was
a good servant； and that the estate was kept in excellent order。
After all； the seventies of which she had heard complaints were by
no means excessive； and it was not to he expected that a Northern
overseer could rule entirely by kindness； as the owner of an estate
could do。 A change would be most inconvenient to her； and she
would have difficulty in suiting herself so well another time。
Besides； the man had been with her sixteen years； and was； as she
believed； devoted to her interests。 Therefore she turned a deaf ear
to Vincent's remonstrances。
She had always been somewhat opposed to his being left in
England at school； urging that he would learn ideas there that
would clash with those of the people among whom his life was to
be spent； and she still considered that her views had been justified
by the result。
The overseer was the first to give his version of the story shout
Dan's conduct； for on going to the house Vincent found his sisters；
Rosa and Annie； in the garden； having just returned from a two
days' visit to some friends in Richmond； and stayed chatting with
them and listening to their news for an hour； and in the meantime
Jonas had gone in and seen Mrs。 Wingfield and told his story。
〃I think； Mrs。 Wingfield；〃 he said when he had finished； 〃that it
will be better for me to leave you。 It is quite evident that I can
have no authority over the hands if your son is to interfere when I
am about to punish a slave for an act of gross disobedience and
neglect。 I found that all the tobacco required turning； and now it
will not be done this afternoon owing to my orders not being
carried out； and the tobacco will not improbably be injured in
quality。 My position is difficult enough as it is； but if the slaves
see that instead of being supported I am thwarted by your son； my
authority is gone altogether。 No overseer can carry on his work
properly under such circumstances。〃
〃I will see to the matter； Jonas；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield said decidedly。
〃Be assured that you have my entire support； and I will see that my
son does not again interfere。〃
When； therefore； Vincent entered the house and began his
complaint he found himself cut short。
〃I have heard the story already； Vincent。 Dan acted in gross
disobedience； and thoroughly deserved the punishment Jonas was
about to give him。 The work of the estate cannot be carried on if
such conduct is to be tolerated； and once for all； I will permit no
interference on your part with Jonas。 If you have any complaints
to make； come to me and make them； but you are not yourself to
interfere in any way with the overseer。 As for Dan； I have directed
Jonas that the next time he gives cause for complaint he is to go
into the fields。〃
Vincent stood silent for a minute； then he said quietly：
〃Very well； mother。 Of course you can do as you like； but at any
rate I will not keep my month shut when I see that fellow
ill…treating the slaves。 Such things were never done in my father's
time； and I won't see them done now。 You said tile other day you
would get me a nomination to West Point as soon as I was sixteen。
I should be glad if you would do so。 By the time I have gone
through the school； you will perhaps see that I have been right
about Jonas。〃
So saying； he turned and left the room and again joined his sisters
in the drawing…room。
〃I have just told mother that I will go to West Point； girls；〃 he said。
〃Father said more than once that he thought it was the best
education I could get in America。〃
〃But I thought you had made up your mind that you would rather
stop at home； Vincent？〃
〃So I had； and so I would have done； but mother and I differ in
opinion That fellow Jonas was going to flog Dan； and I stopped
him this morning； and mother takes his part against me。 You
know； I don't like the way he goes on with the slaves。 They are not
half so merry and happy as they used to be； and I don't like it。 We
shall have one of them running away next； and that will be a nice
thing on what used to be considered one of the happiest plantations
in Virginia。 I can't make mother out； I should have thought that
she would have been the last person in the world to have allowed
the slaves to be harshly treated。〃
〃I am sure we don't like Jonas more than you do； Vincent； but you
see mamma has to depend upon him so much。 No； I don't think
she can like it； but you can't have everything you like in a man； and
I know she thinks he is a very good overseer。 I suppose she could
get another？〃
Vincent said he thought that there could not be much difficulty
about getting an overseer。
〃There might be a difficulty in getting one she could rely on so
thoroughly；〃 Rosa said。 〃You see a great deal must be left to him。
Jonas has been here a good many years now； and she has learned
to trust him。 It would be a long time before she had the same
confidence in a stranger； and you may be sure that he