Kate Vaughan was herself only a mustee—still wanting one step farther from slavery to bring her within the protecting pale of freedom and the enjoyment of its favours.
No will that Loftus Vaughan could decree, no testamentary disposition he might make, could render his daughter his devisee—his heiress.
He might will his property to anybody he pleased: so long as that anybody was a so-called white; but, failing to make such testament, his estate of Mount Welcome, with all he possessed besides, must fall to the next of his own kin—in short, to his nephew Herbert.
Was there no remedy for this unspeakable dilemma? No means by which his own daughter might be saved from disinheritance?
There was. A special act might be obtained from the Assembly of the Island.
Loftus Vaughan knew the remedy, and fully intended to adopt it. Every day was he designing to set out for Spanish Town—the capital—to obtain the special act; and every day was the journey put off.
It was the execution of this design that the Jew Jessuron of all things dreaded most; and to prevent it was the object of his visit to the temple of Obi.
Why he dreaded it scarce needs explanation.
Should Loftus Vaughan fail in his intent, Herbert Vaughan would be the heir of Mount Welcome; and Herbert’s heart was in the keeping of Judith Jessuron.
So fondly believed the Jewess; and, with her assurance of the fact, so also the Jew.