to me. I's so awful wicked, there can't nobody do nothin' with me. I
'spects I's the wickedest crittur in the world.' Then she would turn a
somersault, and come up bright and smiling, evidently quite pleased with
herself.




CHAPTER XV


EVA AND TOPSY


Two or three years passed. Uncle Tom was still with Mr. St. Clare, far
away from his home. He was not really unhappy. But always in his heart
was the aching longing to see his dear ones again.

Now he began to have a new sorrow. He loved his little mistress Eva very
tenderly, and she was ill.

He saw that she was growing white and thin. She no longer ran and played
in the garden for hours together as she used to do. She was always tired
now.

Miss Ophelia noticed it too, and tried to make Mr. St. Clare see it. But
he would not. He loved his little Eva so much, that he did not want to
believe that anything could be the matter with her.

Mrs. St. Clare never thought that any one, except herself, could be ill.