"Yes,  and  you  see  how  much  good  it  does.  Topsy  is  the
worst  creature  I  ever  saw !  "

"  Here  's  poor  Mammy  !  "  said  Eva.  "  She  does  love  the
Bible  so  much,  and  wishes  so  she  could  read !  And  what  will
she  do  when  I  can't  read  to  her  ?  "

Marie  was  busy  turning  over  the  contents  of  a  drawer,  as  she
answered,  —

"  Well,  of  course,  by  and  by,  Eva,  you  will  have  other  things
to  think  of,  besides  reading  the  Bible  round  to  servants.  Not
but  that  is  very  proper ;  I  've  done  it  myself,  when  I  had  health.
But  when  you  come  to  be  dressing  and  going  into  company,  yon
won't  have  time.  See  here  1 "  she  added,  "  these  jewels  I  'm
going  to  give  you  when  you  come  out.  I  wore  them  to  my  first
ball.     I  can  tell  you,  Eva,  I  made  a  sensation."

Eva  took  the  jewel-case,  and  lifted  from  it  a  diamond  neck-
lace. Her  large,  thoughtful  eyes  rested  on  them,  but  it  wa&
plain  her  thoughts  were  elsewhere.
"How  sober  you  look,  child.'  "  said  Marie*


294  UNCLE   TOM'S  CABIN;  OE,

"  Are  these  worth  a  great  deal  of  money,  mamma  ?  "

"To  be  sure,  they  are.  Father  sent  to  France  for  them.
They  are  worth  a  small  fortune."

"I  wish  I  had  them,"  said  Eva,  "to  do  what  I  pleased
with!"

"  What  would  you  do  with  them  ?  "

"  I  'd  seU  them,  and  buy  a  place  in  the  free  states,  and  take
all  OUT  people  there,  and  hire  teachers,  to  teach  them  to  read
and  write."

Eva  was  cut  short  by  her  mother's  laughing.
