“How long has this gone on, sir, without my knowledge?”
“I fancied it was not without your knowledge, sir. Our association has been very open. I fancied, from your own words, that you expected the communication I have just made,” said Mark, with a surprise almost equal to his own.
“No, sir, no! my words referred to a totally different matter, which I shall explain presently,” replied the old gentleman, resuming his seat, with a somewhat changed manner. “So you have addressed Miss Vivian?”
Mark bowed.
“And won her consent to be yours?”
Another bow of assent.
“Humph! well—so I have been truly warned, after all! Pray, Mr. Sutherland, have you ever tried to instil into the minds of my sons, your pupils, any of your own opinions in respect to slavery?”
“I have never named the subject to them, sir. I have endeavoured to cultivate in them principles of truth, justice, and mercy, and left the application of those principles to that subject to time and circumstances.”
“Humph! Have you ever convened my coloured people, and preached insurrection to them?”
“Sir!” exclaimed Mark, with the indignant blood purpling his forehead.