J27 



proper to give her a few boxes on the ear. Upon 

 hearing this, I read him such a lecture upon the 

 baseness of a man's striking a woman, and told 

 him with so much severity that his heart must be 

 a bad one to commit such an offence, that poor 

 Cubina, having never heard a harsh word from me 

 before, scarcely knew whether he stood upon his 

 head or his heels. When he afterwards brought 

 my coffee, he expressed his sorrow for having 

 offended me, and begged my pardon in the most 

 humble manner. I told him, that to obtain mine, 

 he must first obtain that of Phillis, and he imme- 

 diately declared himself ready to make her any 

 apology that I might dictate. So the girl was 

 called in ; and her uncle going up to her, " I am 

 very sorry, Phillis," said he, " that I gave way to 

 high passion, and called you hard names, and 

 struck you : which I ought not to have done while 

 massa was in the house ; 99 (here I was going to 

 interrupt him, but he was too clever not to per- 

 ceive his blunder, and made haste to add) " nor if 

 he had not been here, nor at all ; so I hope you 

 will have the kindness to forgive me this once, and 

 I never will strike you again, and so I beg your par- 

 don." And he then put out his hand to her in the 

 most frank and hearty manner imaginable ; and on 

 her accepting it, made her three or four of his very 

 lowest and most graceful bows. I furnished him 

 with a piece of money to give her as a peace-offer- 

 ing ; they left the room thoroughly reconciled, and 



