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hundred and fifty； at which point the man near the platform retired；
and there was a pause。
Vincent felt uncomfortable。 He had already been round to Mr。
Renfrew； who had told him that he had deputed an agent to buy；
and until the man near the platform stopped ho had supposed that
he was the solicitor's agent。
〃Now； gentlemen；〃 the auctioneer said； 〃surely you are not going
to let this desirable piece of property go for seven fifty？ She would
be cheap at double the price。 I have sold worse articles for three
thousand。〃
〃I will go another twenty…five dollars；〃 a tall man in homespun and
a broad planter's straw hat said quietly。
The contest now recommenced； and by bids of twenty…five dollars
at a time the amount was raised to twelve hundred and fifty
dollars。
〃That's enough for me；〃 the man standing by Andrew Jackson said；
〃he may have her at twelve fifty； and dear enough； too； as times
go。〃
Will any one else make an offer？〃 the auctioneer asked。 There was
no response； and the hammer fell。
〃What name？〃
〃Nathaniel Forster；〃 the tall man said； and advancing to the table
he counted out a roll of notes and gave them to the auctioneer；
who handed to him a formal note certifying to his having duly and
legally purchased Dinah Moore and her infant； late the property of
Andrew Jackson； Esquire； of the Cedars； State of Virginia。
The purchaser had evidently made up his mind beforehand to
secure the lot； for he handed a parcel he had been holding to
Dinah； and said briefly； 〃Slip those things on； my lass。〃
The poor girl； who had before been simply attired in the scantiest
of petticoats； retired to a corner of the yard； and speedily came
forward again dressed in a neat cotton gown。 There were several
joking remarks made by the bystanders； but Dinah's new master
took no notice of them； but with a motion of his hand to her to
follow him； walked out of the yard。
A minute later Vincent followed； and although he had no doubt
that the man was the agent Mr。 Renfrew had employed； he did not
feel thoroughly satisfied until he saw them enter the lawyer's
office。 He quickly followed。 They had just entered the private
room of Mr。 Renfrew。
〃That's right； Wingfield；〃 the lawyer said。 〃You see we have
settled the business satisfactorily； and I think you have got a fairly
cheap bargain。 Just wait a moment and we will complete the
transaction。〃
Dinah gave a start as Vincent entered； but with the habitual
self…repression of a slave she stood quietly in the corner to which
she had withdrawn at the other end of the room。
The lawyer was busy drawing up a document； and touching the
bell ordered a clerk to go across to Mr。 Rawlins； justice of the
peace； and ask him to step across the road。
In a minute Mr。 Rawlins entered。
〃I want you to witness a deed of sale of a slave；〃 Mr。 Renfrew said。
〃Here are the particulars： 'Nathaniel Forster sells to Vincent
Wingfield his slave； Dinah Moore and her male infant； for the sum
of fourteen hundred dollars。' These are the parties。 Forster sign this
receipt。〃
The man did so。 The justice put his signature as wit…ness to the
transaction； dropped into his pocket the fee of five dollars that the
lawyer handed to him； and without a word strolled out again。
〃There； Dinah；〃 Mr。 Renfrew said； 〃Mr。 Wingfield is now your
master；〃
The girl ran forward； fell on her knees before Vincent； seized his
hand and kissed it； sobbing out her thanks as she did so。
〃There； that will do； Dinah；〃 the lawyer said； seeing that Vincent
was confused by her greeting。 〃I think you are a lucky girl； and
have made a good exchange for the Orangery instead of the
Cedars。 I don't suppose you will find Mr。 Wingfield a very hard
master。 What he is going to do with you I am sure I don't know。〃
Vincent now went to the door and called in Dan and told him to
take Dinah to the Orangery； then mounting his horse he rode off
home to prepare his mother for the reception of his new purchase。
CHAPTER III。 AIDING A RUNAWAY。
〃WELL； you are an extraordinary boy； Vincent；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield
said as her son told her the story； while his sisters burst into fits of
laughter at the idea of Vincent owning a female slave with a baby。
〃Why did you not tell me that you wanted the money instead of
going to Mr。 Renfrew？ I shall tell him I am very angry with him
for letting you have it for such a purpose。〃
〃I was not sure whether you would let me have it； mother； and if
you had refused； and I had got it afterward from Mr。 Renfrew； I
should not have liked to bring her home here。〃
〃That would have been fun；〃 Annie said。 〃Fancy Vincent's
troubles with a female slave on his hands and nowhere to put her。
What would you have done； Vincent？〃
〃I suppose I could have got a home for her somewhere；〃 Vincent
said quietly。 〃I don't think there would have been any difficulty
about that。 Still I am glad I didn't have to do so； and one slave
more or less can make no difference here。〃
〃Not at all；〃 Mrs。 Wingfleld said； 〃I dare say Chloe will find
something for her to do in the way of washing； and such other light
work that she is fit for about the house。 It is not that； but it is years
since a slave was brought into the Orangery； never since I can
remember。 We raise more than we want ourselves； and when I see
all those children about； I wonder sometimes what on earth we are
to find for them all to do。 Still； it was a scandalous thing of that
man Jackson selling the girl to punish her husband； and as you say
it was your foolish interference in the matter that brought it about；
so I do not know that I can blame you for doing what you can to
set the matter straight。 Still； except that the knowledge that she is
here and will be well treated will be a comfort to the man； I do not
see that he will be much the better off； unless indeed the Jacksons
should try to sell him also； in which case I suppose you would
want to buy him。〃
〃I am afraid they won't' do that； mother。 Still； some…how or other；
in time they may come together again。
〃I don't see how they can； Vincent。 However we need not think of
that now。 At any rate I hope there will he no further opportunity
for your mixing yourself up in this business。 You have made two
bitter enemies now； and although I do not see that such people as
these can do you any harm； it is always well not to make enemies；
especially in times like these when no one can foresee exactly
what may occur。〃
And so Dinah Moore became an inmate of the Orangery； and
though the girls had laughed at their brother； they were very kind
to her when she arrived with Dan； and made much of her and of
her baby。 The same night Dan went over to the Cedars； and
managed to have an inter view with Tony； and to tell him that his
wife had been bought by Vincent。 The joy of the negro was
extreme。 The previous message had