"  But  you  love  your  father  and  mother  ?  "

"  Never  had  none,  ye  know.     I  telled  ye  that.  Miss  Eva."

"  Oh,  I  know,"  said  Eva,  sadly ;  ''  but  had  n't  you  any
brother,  or  sister,  or  aunt,  or  "  —

"  No,  none  on  'em,  —  never  had  nothing  nor  nobody.''

"  But,  Topsy,  if  you  'd  only  try  to  be  good,  you  might  "  —

"  Could  n't  never  be  nothin'  but  a  nigger,  if  I  was  ever  so
good,"  said  Topsy.  "  If  I  could  be  skinned,  and  come  white,
I  'd  try  then."

"  But  people  can  love  you,  if  you  are  black,  Topsy.  Miss
Ophelia  would  love  you,  if  you  were  good."

Topsy  gave  the  short,  blunt  laugh  that  was  her  common  mode
of  expressing  incredulity.
"  Don't  you  think  so  ?  "  said  Eva.
"  No ;  she  can't  bar  me,  'cause  I  'm  a  nigger !  —  she  'd  's
soon  have  a  toad  touch  her  !  There  can't  nobody  love  niggers,
and  niggers  can't  do  nothin' !  /  don't  care,"  said  Topsy,  be.
ginning  to  whistle.
