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216 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
give each other up, as it was n't likely to be convenient for them ever to live together again. I wish, now, I 'd insisted on it, and married Mammy to somebody else; but I was foolish and indulgent, and did n't want to insist. I told Mammy, at the time, that she must n't ever expect to see him more than once or twice in her life again, for the air of father's place does n't agree with my health, and I can't go there ; and I advised her to take up with somebody else ; but no — she would n't. Mammy has a kind of obstinacy about her, in spots, that everybody don't see as I do."
" Has she children ? " said Miss Ophelia.
" Yes ; she has two."
"I suppose she feels the separation from them ?,:
" Well, of course, I could n't bring them. They were little dirty things, — I could n't have them about; and, besides, they took up too much of her time; but I believe that Mammy has always kept up a sort of sulkiness about this. She won't marry anybody else ; and I do believe, now, though she knows how necessary she is to me, and how feeble my health is, she would go back to her husband to-morrow, if she only could. I do, indeed," said Marie ; " they are just so selfish, now, the best of them."
" It's distressing to reflect upon," said St. Clare, dryly.
Miss Ophelia looked keenly at him, and saw the flush of mortification and repressed vexation, and the sarcastic curl of the lip, as he spoke.
' Now, Mammy has always been a pet with me," said Marie. " I wish some of your Northern servants could look at her closets of dresses, — silks and muslins, and one real linen cambric, she has hanging there. I 've worked sometimes whole afternoons, trimming her caps, and getting her ready to go to a party. As to abuse, she don't know what it is. She never was whipped more than once or twice in her whole life. She has her strong coffee or her tea every day, with white sugar in it. It's abominable, to be sure ; but St. Clare will have high life below- |
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