"  I  would  n't  have  the  child  treated  so,  for  the  world,"  she
said ;  "  but,  I  am  sure,  Augustine,  I  don't  know  what  to  do.
I  've  taught  and  taught ;  I  've  talked  till  I  'm  tired  ;  I  've
whipped  her ;  I  've  punished  her  in  every  way  I  can  think  of,
and  still  she  's  just  what  she  was  at  first."

"  Come  here,  Tops,  you  monkey  !  "  said  St.  Clare,  calling  the
child  up  to  him.
Topsy  came  up  ;  her  round,  hard  eyes  glittering  and  blinking
with  a  mixture  of  apprehensiveness  and  their  usual  odd  drollery.
"  What  makes  you  behave  so  ? "  said  St.  Clare,  who  could
not  help  being  amused  with  the  child's  expression.
"  Spects  it 's  my  wicked  heart,"  said  Topsy,  demurely ;
"Miss  Feely  says  so."

"  Don't  you  see  how  much  Miss  Ophelia  has  done  for  you^
She  says  she  has  done  everything  she  can  think  of."

"  Lor,  yes,  Mas'r !  old  Missis  used  to  say  so,  too.  She
whipped  me  a  heap  harder,  and  used  to  puU  my  har,  and  knock
my  head  agin  the  door  ;  but  it  did  n't  do  me  no  good  !  I  spects,
if  they 's  to  pull  every  spear  o'  har  out  o'  my  head,  it  would  n't
do  no  good,  neither,  —  I 's  so  wicked !  Laws !  I 's  nothin'  but
a  nigger,  no  ways !  "

"  Well,  I  shall  have  to  give  her  up,"  said  Miss  Ophelia.  "  I
can't  have  that  trouble  any  longer."

"  Well,  I  'd  just  like  to  ask  one  question,"  said  St.  Clare.
