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450 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
" She picks like de debil and all his angels ! " " She 's got 'em all in her, I believe,' said Legree ; and growling a brutal oath, he proceeded to the weighing-room.
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Slowly the weary, dispirited creatures wound their way into the room, and, with crouching reluctance, presented their baskets to be weighed.
Legree noted on a slate, on the side of which was pasted a list of names, the amount.
Tom's basket was weighed and approved; and he looked, with an anxious glance, for the success of the woman he had befriended.
Tottering with weakness, she came forward, and delivered her basket. It was of full weight, as Legree well perceived ; but, affecting anger, he said, —
" What, you lazy beast! short again ! stand aside, you '11 catch it, pretty soon ! "
The woman gave a groan of utter despair, and sat down on a board.
The person who had been called Misse Cassy now came forward, and, with a haughty, negligent air, delivered her basket. As she delivered it, Legree looked in her eyes with a sneering, yet inquiring glance.
She fixed her black eyes steadily on him, her lips moved slightly, and she said something in French. What it was, no one knew; but Legree's face became perfectly demoniacal in its expression, as she spoke; he half raised his hand as if to strike, — a gesture which she regarded with fierce disdain, as she turned and walked away.
" And now," said Legree, " come here, you Tom. You see, I telled ye I did n't buy ye jest for the common work ; I mean to promote ye, and make a driver of ye; and to-night ye may jest as well begin to get yer hand in. Now, ye jest take this yer gal and flog her ; ye 've seen enough on 't to know how."
"I beg Mas'r's pardon," said Tom ; " hopes Mas'r won't |
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