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18 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR |
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CHAPTER III.
THE HUSBAND AND FATHER.
Mrs. Shelby had gone on her visit, and Eliza stood in the veranda, rather dejectedly looking after the retreating carriage, when a hand was laid on her shoulder. She turned, and a bright smile lighted up her fine eyes.
" George, is it you ? How you frightened me ! Well ! I am so glad you 's come ! Missis is gone to spend the afternoon ; so come into my little room, and we '11 have the time all to ourselves."
Saying this, she drew him into a neat little apartment opening on the veranda, where she generally sat at her sewing, within call of her mistress.
" How glad I am ! why don't you smile ? and look at Harry, how he grows." The boy stood shyly regarding his father through his curls, holding close to the skirts of his mother's dress. " Is n't he beautiful ? ' said Eliza, lifting his long curls and kissing him.
" I wish he 'd never been born ! " said George, bitterly. " I wish I 'd never been born myself ! "
Surprised and frightened, Eliza sat down, leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, and burst into tears.
" There now, Eliza, it's too bad for me to make you feel so, poor girl! " said he, fondly ; " it's too bad. Oh, how I wish you never had seen me, you might have been happy ! "
" George ! George! how can you talk so ? What dreadful thing has happened, or is going to happen ? I 'm sure we 've been very happy, till lately."
" So we have, dear," said George. Then drawing his |
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