Bankrupt in character, and debauched in body and mind, with seven
mulatto children who claimed him as their father, he was badly
prepared to find fault with his son-in-law. It was settled that
Mrs. Miller should use her own discretion in removing Isabella
from her little cottage, and her future disposition. With this
understanding Henry and Gertrude returned home. In the deep
recesses of his heart the young man felt that he would like to see
his child and its mother once more; but fearing the wrath of his
mother-in-law, he did not dare to gratify his inclination. He had
not the slightest idea of what would become of them; but he well
knew that the old woman would have no mercy on them.
CHAPTER XIII
A HARD-HEARTED WOMAN.
With no one but her dear little Clotelle, Isabella passed her weary
hours without partaking of either food or drink, hoping that Henry
would soon return, and that the strange meeting with the old woman
would be cleared up.
While seated in her neat little bedroom with her fevered face
buried in her handkerchief, the child ran in and told its mother
that a carriage had stopped in front of the house. With a
palpitating heart she arose from her seat and went to the door,
hoping that it was Henry; but, to her great consternation, the old
lady who had paid her such an unceremonious visit on the evening
that she had last seen Henry, stepped out of the carriage,
accompanied by the slave-trader, Jennings.
Isabella had seen the trader when he purchased her mother and
sister, and immediately recognized him.
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