"Certainly—you beat any slave who disobeys orders."
"Is that the general practice?" Parkington inquired.
"The general practice is to do as you wish with them," the other answered, sharply.
"But suppose Marbury should not care to have his slaves beaten—what then?"
"Then he has no business to assign one to me for a servant. Oh, it is all understood—and, what is more, he will get another trouncing, if I mention it to the Marburys."
Parkington nodded. "I see," he said; "you have a way, here, we, of the old country, do not understand."
"You would understand it quick enough, if you lived here."
"And do you not ever try to manage them with kindness—do you whip them for every offense?"
Herford shrugged his shoulders. "Thank God! I do not own any—but, if I did——"
Parkington smiled. "I take it, that the disposition to beat them is in the inverse ratio to the number owned."