"Bless you," said Mark, "I know it is, from hearing his whole story. That master died; so did his second master from having his head cut open with a hatchet by another slave, who, when he'd done it, went and drowned himself: then he got a better one: in years and years he saved up a little money, and bought his freedom, which he got pretty cheap at last, on account of his strength being nearly gone, and he being ill. Then he come here. And now he's a saving up to treat himself afore he dies to one small purchase—it's nothing to speak of; only his own daughter; that's all!" cried Mr. Tapley, becoming excited. "Liberty for ever! Hurrah!"
"Hush!" cried Martin, clapping his hand upon his mouth: "and don't be an idiot. What is he doing here?"
"Waiting to take our luggage off upon a truck," said Mark. "He'd have come for it by-and-by, but I engaged him for a very reasonable charge—out of my own pocket—to sit along with me and make me jolly; and I am jolly; and if I was rich enough to contract with him to wait upon me once a day, to be looked at, I'd never be anything else."
The fact may cause a solemn impeachment of Mark's veracity, but it must be admitted nevertheless, that there was that in his face and manner at the moment, which militated strongly against this emphatic declaration of his state of mind.
"Lord love you, sir," he added, "they're so fond of Liberty in this part of the globe, that they buy her and sell her and carry her to market with 'em. They 've such a passion for Liberty, that they can't help taking liberties with her. That's what it's owing to."
"Very well," said Martin, wishing to change the theme. "Having come to that conclusion, Mark, perhaps you 'll attend to me. The place to which the luggage is to go, is printed on this card. Mrs. Pawkins's Boarding House."
"Mrs. Pawkins's boarding-house," repeated Mark. "Now, Cicero."
"Is that his name?" asked Martin.
"That's his name, sir," rejoined Mark. And the negro grinning assent from under a leathern portmanteau, than which his own face was many shades deeper, hobbled down stairs with his portion of their worldly goods: Mark Tapley having already gone before with his share.
Martin and his friend followed them to the door below, and were about to pursue their walk, when the latter stopped, and asked, with some hesitation, whether that young man was to be trusted.
"Mark! Oh certainly! with anything."
"You don't understand me,—I think he had better go with us. He is an honest fellow, and speaks his mind so very plainly."
"Why, the fact is," said Martin smiling, "that being unaccustomed to a free republic, he is used to do so."
"I think he had better go with us," returned the other. "He may get into some trouble otherwise. This is not a slave State; but I am ashamed to say that the spirit of Tolerance is not so common anywhere in these latitudes as the form. We are not remarkable for behaving very temperately to each other when we differ: but to strangers! no, I really think he had better go with us."
