"He may not ask you to now; if he does, you will be submissive and perfectly respectful?"
"Yes, ma'am, I will."
When the Deputy came in, I importuned him to unlock my women.
"If I do, it will only be to have O'Brien locked up again in a few days. She has been here twice before, and is one of the worst cases we have ever had."
"If she is subdued and promises to do better, is not that enough?"
"Subdued!" he echoed. "She will promise anything to get out."
"Did you ever get a promise from her to do better?"
"I don't think we ever did. She has always braved us as long as she could speak."
"I am a new mistress, my management may be new to her. Will you let me try her, if you please? She is such a young thing, it seems as though she might be influenced to reform. You are punishing me to keep her in that dark cell. It takes my strength all away to think of her there. I could not sleep last night,—thoughts of her haunted me."
The tears came into my eyes. If he had refused me, I should have cried outright. He was a man, and one of kindly feelings, too, when left to himself. He gave me the order,—