of it, he failed to interpret the look of disappointment in her
expressive eyes, as she turned from him with a sigh.

"Tom will come with the carriage once a week," said he; "and either he
or Joe will be here every night."

"Thank you," she replied.

But the tone was so sad that he took her hand with the tenderness of
former times, and said, "You are sorry to part with me, Bella Rosa?"

"How can I be otherwise than sorry," she asked, "when I am all alone
in the world without you? Dear Gerald, are we always to live thus?
Will you never acknowledge me as your wife?"

"How can I do it," rejoined he, "without putting myself in the power
of those cursed creditors? It is no fault of mine that your mother was
a slave."

"We should be secure from them in Europe," she replied. "Why couldn't
we live abroad?"

"Do you suppose my rich uncle would leave me a cent if he found out I
had married the daughter of a quadroon?" rejoined he. "I have met with
losses lately, and I can't afford to offend my uncle. I am sorry,
dear, that you are dissatisfied with the home I have provided for
you."

"I am not dissatisfied with my home," said she. "I have no desire to
mix with the world, but it is necessary for you, and these separations