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confidence in a stranger； and you may be sure that he would have
his faults； though； perhaps； not the same as those of Jonas。 I think
you don't make allowance enough for mamma； Vincent。 I quite
agree with you as to Jonas； and I don't think mamma can like his
harshness to the slaves any more than you do； but every one says
what a difficulty it is to get a really trustworthy and capable
overseer； and； of course； it is all the harder when there is no master
to look after him。〃
〃Well； in a few years I shall be able to look after an overseer；〃
Vincent said。
〃You might do so； of course； Vincent； if you liked； but unless you
change a good deal； I don't think your supervision would amount to
much。 When you are not at school you are always on horseback
and away； and we see little enough of you； and I do not think you
are likely for a long time yet to give up most of your time to
looking after the estate。〃
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 Vincent said； after thinking for a minute；
〃hut I think I could settle down too； and give most of my time to
the estate； if I was responsible for it。 I dare say mother is in a
difficulty over it； and I should not have spoken as I did； I will go in
and tell her so。〃
Vincent found his mother sitting as he had left her。 Although she
had sided with Jonas； it was against her will； for it was grievous to
her to hear complaints of the treatment of the slaves at the
Orangery。 Still； as Rosa had said； she felt every confidence in her
overseer； and believed that he was an excellent servant。 She was
conscious that she herself knew nothing of business； and that she
must therefore give her entire confidence to her manager。 She
greatly disliked the strictness of Jonas； but if； as he said； the slaves
would not obey him without； he must do as lie thought best。
〃I think I spoke too hastily； mother；〃 Vincent said as he entered；
〃and I am sure that you would not wish the slaves to be ill…treated
more than I should。 I dare say Jonas means for the best。〃
〃I feel sure that he does； Vincent。 A man in his position cannot
make himself obeyed like a master。 I wish it could be otherwise；
and I will speak to him on the subject； but it will not do to
interfere with him too much。 A good overseer is not easy to get；
and the slaves are always ready to take advantage of leniency。 An
easy master makes bad work； but an easy overseer would mean
ruin to an estate。 I am convinced that Jonas has our interests at
heart； and I will tell him that I particularly wish that he will devise
some other sort of punishment； such as depriving men who won't
work of some of their privileges instead of using the lash。〃
〃Thank you； mother。 At any rate； he might he told that the lash is
never to be used without first appealing to you。〃
〃I will see about it； Vincent； and talk it over with him。〃 And with
that Vincent was satisfied。
CHAPTER II。 BUYING A SLAVE。
MRS。 WINGFIELD did talk the matter over with the overseer； and
things went on in consequence more smoothly。 Vincent； however；
adhered to his wish； and it was arranged that as soon as he could
get a nomination he should go to West Point； which is to the
American army what Sandhurst and Woolwich are to England。
Before that could he done； however； a great political agitation
sprang up。 The slaves States were greatly excited over the prospect
of a Republican president being chosen； for the Republicans were
to a great extent identified with the abolition movement； and
public feeling； which had for some time run high； became
intensified as the time approached for the election of a new
president； and threats that if the Democrats were beaten and a
Republican elected the slave States would secede from the Union；
were freely indulged in。
In Virginia； which was one of the most northern of the slave
States； opinion was somewhat divided； there being a strong
minority against any extreme measures being taken。 Among
Vincent's friends； however； who were for the most part the sons of
planters； the Democratic feeling was very strongly in the
ascendant； and their sympathies were wholly with the Southern
States。 That these had a right to secede was assumed by them as
being unquestionable。
But in point of fact there was a great deal to be said on both sides。
The States which first entered the Union in 1776 considered
themselves to be separate and sovereign States； each possessing
power and authority to manage its own affairs； and forming only a
federation in order to construct a central power； and so to operate
with more effect against the mother country。 Two years later the
constitution of the United States was framed； each State giving up
a certain portion of its authority； reserving its own self…government
and whatever rights were not specifically resigned。
No mention was made in the constitution of the right of a State to
secede from the Union； and while those who insisted that each
State had a right to secede if it chose to do so declared that this
right was reserved； their opponents affirmed that such a case could
never have been contemplated。 Thus the question of absolute right
had never been settled； and it became purely one of force。
Early in November； 1860； it became known that the election of
Mr。 Lincoln； the Republican candidate； was assured； and on the
ninth of that month the representatives of South Carolina met at
Charleston； and unanimously authorized the holding of a State
convention to meet in the third week in December。 The
announcement caused great excitement； for it was considered
certain that the convention would pass a vote of secession； and
thus bring the debated question to an issue。 Although opinion in
Virginia was less unanimous than in the more southern States； it
was generally thought that she would imitate the example of South
Carolina。
On the day following the receipt of the news； Vincent； who had
ridden over to the plantations of several of his friends to talk the
matter over； was returning homeward； when he heard the sound of
heavy blows with a whip and loud curses； and a moment later a
shrill scream in a woman's voice rose in the air。
Vincent checked his horse mechanically with an exclamation of
auger。 He knew but too well what was going on beyond the screen
of shrubs that grew on the other side of the fence bordering the
road。 For a moment he hesitated； and then muttering； 〃What's the
use！〃 was about to touch the horse with the whip and gallop on；
when the shriek again rose louder and more agonizing than before。
With a cry of rage Vincent leaped from his horse； threw the reins
over the top of the fence； climbed over it in a moment； and burst
his way through the shrubbery。
Close by a negro was being held by four others； two having hold of
each wrist and holding his arms extended to full length； while a
white lad； some two years Vincent's senior； was showering blows
with a heavy