of a natural petulance aggravated by the dulness of life in Barbados
to a lady of her social aspirations. But he had prescribed for her
none the less, and she had conceived herself the better for his
prescription. After that the fame of him had gone through Bridgetown,
and Colonel Bishop had found that there was more profit to be made
out of this new slave by leaving him to pursue his profession than
by setting him to work on the plantations, for which purpose he had
been originally acquired.

"It is yourself, madam, I have to thank for my comparatively easy
and clean condition," said Mr. Blood, "and I am glad to take this
opportunity of doing so."

The gratitude was in his words rather than in his tone. Was he
mocking, she wondered, and looked at him with the searching frankness
that another might have found disconcerting. He took the glance for
a question, and answered it.

"If some other planter had bought me," he explained, "it is odds
that the facts of my shining abilities might never have been brought
to light, and I should be hewing and hoeing at this moment like the
poor wretches who were landed with me."

"And why do you thank me for that? It was my uncle who bought you."

"But he would not have done so had you not urged him. I perceived
your interest. At the time I resented it."

"You resented it?" There was a challenge in her boyish voice.