old and experienced sinner for
a raw probationer but an ill exchange. Add to which, that her habits inclined
her to moroseness and discontent, and that persons of her complexion seem unable
to exist without some object upon which to employ the superfluity of their gall.
She lost no opportunity upon the most trifling occasion of displaying her
animosity, and ever and anon eyed me with a furious glance of canine hunger for
my destruction. Nothing was more evidently mortifying to her than the
procrastination of her malice; nor could she bear to think that a fierceness so
gigantic and uncontrolable should show itself in nothing more terrific than the
pigmy spite of a chambermaid. For myself, I had been accustomed to the warfare
of formidable adversaries and the encounter of alarming dangers; and what I saw
of her spleen had not power sufficient to disturb my tranquillity.
    As I recovered, I told my story, except so far as related to the detection
of Mr. Falkland's eventful secret, to my protector. That particular I could not
as yet prevail upon myself to disclose even in a situation like this, which
seemed to preclude the possibility of its being made use of to the disadvantage
of my persecutor. My present auditor however, whose habits of thinking were
extremely opposite to those of Mr. Forester, did not from the obscurity which
flowed from this reserve, deduce any unfavourable conclusion. His penetration
was such as to afford little room for an impostor to hope to mislead him by a
fictitious statement, and he confided in that penetration. So confiding, the
simplicity and integrity of my manner carried conviction to his mind and insured
his good opinion and friendship.
    He listened to my story with eagerness, and commented on the several parts
as I related them. He said that this was only one fresh instance of the tyranny
and perfidiousness exercised by the powerful members of the community against
those who were less privileged than themselves. Nothing could be more clear than
their readiness to sacrifice the human species at large to their meanest
interest or wildest caprice. Who that saw the situation in its true light would
wait till their oppressors thought fit to decree their destruction, and not take
arms in their defence while it was yet in their power? Which was most
meritorious, the unresisting and dastardly submission of a slave, or the
enterprise and gallantry of the man who dared to assert his claims? Since by the
partial administration of our laws innocence, when power was armed against it,
had nothing better to hope for than guilt, what man of true courage would fail
to set these laws at defiance, and, if he must suffer by their