All  the  noise  and  hum  of  the  boat,  the  groaning  of  the  machiu'
ery,  mingled  dreamily  to  her  bewildered  ear ;  and  the  poor,,
dumb-stricken  heart  had  neither  cry  nor  tear  to  show  for  itw
utter  misery.     She  was  quite  calm.
The  trader,  who,  considering  his  advantages,  was  almost  as
humane  as  some  of  our  politicians,  seemed  to  feel  called  on  to
administer  such  consolation  as  the  case  admitted  of.
"  I  know  this  yer  comes  kinder  hard,  at  first,  Lwcy,"  said  he ;
"  but  such  a  smart,  sensible  gal  as  you  are  won't  give  way  to  it.
You  see  it 's  necessary,  and  can't  be  helped !  "

"  Oh,  don't,  Mas'r,  don't !  "  said  the  woman,  with  a  voice  like
one  that  is  smothering.
"  You  're  a  smart  wench,  Lucy,"  he  persisted ;  "  I  mean  to
do  well  by  ye,  and  get  ye  a  nice  place  down  river ;  and  you  '11
soon  get  another  husband,  —  such  a  likely  gal  as  you  "  —

"  Oh,  Mas'r,  if  you  ordy  won't  talk  to  me  now,"  said  th«
woman,  in  a  voice  of  such  quick  and  living  anguish  that  the
trader  felt  that  there  was  something  at  present  in  the  case  be-
yond his  style  of  operation.  He  got  up,  and  the  woman  turned
away,  and  buried  her  head  in  her  cloak.
The  trader  walked  up  and  down  for  a  time,  and  occasionally
stopped  and  looked  at  her.
