77 



go away, sir ; it is only for the name and honour of 

 being free : but I would always stay here and be 

 your servant ; and I had rather be an under- work- 

 man on Cornwall, than a head carpenter any where 

 else." Possibly, this was all palaver (in which the 

 negroes are great dealers), but at least he seemed 

 to be sincere ; and I was heartily grieved that I 

 could not allow myself to say more to him than 

 that I sincerely wished him to get his liberty, and 

 would receive the very lowest exchange for him 

 that common prudence would authorize. And even 

 for those few kind words, the poor fellow seemed 

 to think it impossible to find means strong enough 

 to express his gratitude. 



Nor is this the only instance in which Nicholas 

 has been unlucky. ]t seems that he was the first 

 lover of the beautiful Psyche, whom I had noticed 

 on my arrival. This evening, after the perform- 

 ance of the John-Canoes, I desired to see some 

 of the girls dance ; and by general acclamation 

 Psyche was brought forward to exhibit, she being 

 avowedly the best dancer on the estate ; and cer- 

 tainly nothing could be more light, graceful, easy, 

 and spirited, than her performance. She perfectly 

 answered the description of Sallust's Sempronia, 

 who was said — "Saltare elegantius, quam necesse 

 est probae, et cui cariora semper omnia, quam decus 

 et pudicitia fuit." When her dance was over, I 

 called her to me, and gave her a handful of silver. 

 " Ah, Psyche," said Nicholas, who was standing 



