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t make any audible comment upon it；—only ordered Tom to get the horses out for a ride。
Tom’s letter was written in due form for him that evening； and safely lodged in the post…office。
Miss Ophelia still persevered in her labors in the housekeeping line。 It was universally agreed； among all the household； from Dinah down to the youngest urchin； that Miss Ophelia was decidedly “curis；”—a term by which a southern servant implies that his or her betters don’t exactly suit them。
The higher circle in the family—to wit； Adolph； Jane and Rosa—agreed that she was no lady； ladies never keep working about as she did；—that she had no air at all； and they were surprised that she should be any relation of the St。 Clares。 Even Marie declared that it was absolutely fatiguing to see Cousin Ophelia always so busy。 And； in fact； Miss Ophelia’s industry was so incessant as to lay some foundation for the complaint。 She sewed and stitched away； from daylight till dark； with the energy of one who is pressed on by some immediate urgency； and then； when the light faded； and the work was folded away； with one turn out came the ever…ready knitting…work； and there she was again； going on as briskly as ever。 It really was a labor to see her。
Chapter 20
Topsy
One morning； while Miss Ophelia was busy in some of her domestic cares； St。 Clare’s voice was heard； calling her at the foot of the stairs。
“Come down here； Cousin； I’ve something to show you。”
“What is it？” said Miss Ophelia； coming down； with her sewing in her hand。
“I’ve made a purchase for your department；—see here；” said St。 Clare； and； with the word； he pulled along a little negro girl； about eight or nine years of age。
She was one of the blackest of her race； and her round shining eyes； glittering as glass beads； moved with quick and restless glances over everything in the room。 Her mouth； half open with astonishment at the wonders of the new Mas’r’s parlor； displayed a white and brilliant set of teeth。 Her woolly hair was braided in sundry little tails； which stuck out in every direction。 The expression of her face was an odd mixture of shrewdness and cunning； over which was oddly drawn； like a kind of veil； an expression of the most doleful gravity and solemnity。 She was dressed in a single filthy； ragged garment； made of bagging； and stood with her hands demurely folded before her。 Altogether； there was something odd and goblin…like about her appearance；—something； as Miss Ophelia afterwards said； “so heathenish；” as to inspire that good lady with utter dismay； and turning to St。 Clare； she said；
“Augustine； what in the world have you brought that thing here for？”
“For you to educate； to be sure； and train in the way she should go。 I thought she was rather a funny specimen in the Jim Crow line。 Here； Topsy；” he added； giving a whistle； as a man would to call the attention of a dog； “give us a song； now； and show us some of your dancing。”
The black； glassy eyes glittered with a kind of wicked drollery； and the thing struck up； in a clear shrill voice； an odd negro melody； to which she kept time with her hands and feet； spinning round； clapping her hands； knocking her knees together； in a wild； fantastic sort of time； and producing in her throat all those odd guttural sounds which distinguish the native music of her race； and finally； turning a summerset or two； and giving a prolonged closing note； as odd and unearthly as that of a steam…whistle； she came suddenly down on the carpet； and stood with her hands folded； and a most sanctimonious expression of meekness and solemnity over her face； only broken by the cunning glances which she shot askance from the corners of her eyes。
Miss Ophelia stood silent； perfectly paralyzed with amazement。 St。 Clare； like a mischievous fellow as he was； appeared to enjoy her astonishment； and； addressing the child again； said；
“Topsy； this is your new mistress。 I’m going to give you up to her； see now that you behave yourself。”
“Yes； Mas’r；” said Topsy； with sanctimonious gravity； her wicked eyes twinkling as she spoke。
“You’re going to be good； Topsy； you understand；” said St。 Clare。
“O yes； Mas’r；” said Topsy； with another twinkle； her hands still devoutly folded。
“Now； Augustine； what upon earth is this for？” said Miss Ophelia。 “Your house is so full of these little plagues； now； that a body can’t set down their foot without treading on ’em。 I get up in the morning； and find one asleep behind the door； and see one black head poking out from under the table； one lying on the door…mat；—and they are mopping and mowing and grinning between all the railings； and tumbling over the kitchen floor！ What on earth did you want to bring this one for？”
“For you to educate—didn’t I tell you？ You’re always preaching about educating。 I thought I would make you a present of a fresh…caught specimen； and let you try your hand on her； and bring her up in the way she should go。”
“I don’t want her； I am sure；—I have more to do with ’em now than I want to。”
“That’s you Christians； all over！—you’ll get up a society； and get some poor missionary to spend all his days among just such heathen。 But let me see one of you that would take one into your house with you； and take the labor of their conversion on yourselves！ No； when it comes to that； they are dirty and disagreeable； and it’s too much care； and so on。”
“Augustine； you know I didn’t think of it in that light；” said Miss Ophelia； evidently softening。 “Well； it might be a real missionary work；” said she； looking rather more favorably on the child。
St。 Clare had touched the right string。 Miss Ophelia’s conscientiousness was ever on the alert。 “But；” she added； “I really didn’t see the need of buying this one；—there are enough now； in your house； to take all my time and skill。”
“Well； then； Cousin；” said St。 Clare； drawing her aside； “I ought to beg your pardon for my good…for…nothing speeches。 You are so good； after all； that there’s no sense in them。 Why； the fact is； this concern belonged to a couple of drunken creatures that keep a low restaurant that I have to pass by every day； and I was tired of hearing her screaming； and them beating and swearing at her。 She looked bright and funny； too； as if something might be made of her；—so I bought her； and I’ll give her to you。 Try； now； and give her a good orthodox New England bringing up； and see what it’ll make of her。 You know I haven’t any gift that way； but I’d like you to try。”
“Well； I’ll do what I can；” said Miss Ophelia； and she approached her new subject very much as a person might be supposed to approach a black spider； supposing them to have benevolent designs toward it。
“She’s dreadfully dirty； and half naked；” she said。
“Well； take her down stairs； and make some of them clean and clothe her up。”
Miss Ophelia carried her to the kitchen regions。
“Don’t see what Mas’r St。 Clare wants of ’nother nigger！” said Dinah； surveying the new arrival with no friendly air。 “Won’t have her around under my feet； I know！”
“Pah！” said Rosa and Jane； with supreme disgust； “let her keep out of our way！ What in the world Mas’r wanted another of these low niggers for； I can’t see！”
“You go long！ No more nigger dan you be； Miss Rosa；” said Dinah； who felt this last remark a reflection on herself。 “You seem to tink yourself white folks。 You an’t nerry one； black nor white； I’d like to be one or turrer。”
Miss Ophelia saw that there was nobody in the camp that would undertake to oversee the cleansing and dressing of the new arrival； and so she was forced to do it herself； with some very ungracious and reluctant assistance from Jane。
It is not for ears polite to hear the particulars of the first toilet of a neglected； abused child。 In fact； in this world； multitudes must live and die in a state that it would be too great a shock to the nerves of their fellow…mortals even to hear described。 Miss Ophelia had a good； strong； practical deal of resolution； and she went through all the disgusting details with heroic thoroughness； though； it must be confessed； with no very gracious air；—for endurance was the utmost to which her principles could bring her。 When