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"And when will _my_ trouble be over ?" "When Mas'r St.Clare's a Christian," said Tom.
"And you really mean to stay by till that day comes ?" said St.Clare, half smiling, as he turned from the window, and laid his hand on Tom's shoulder.

"Ah, Tom, you soft, silly boy! I won't keep you till that day.
Go home to your wife and children, and give my love to all." "I 's faith to believe that day will come," said Tom, earnestly, and with tears in his eyes; "the Lord has a work for Mas'r." "A work, hey ?" said St.Clare, "well, now, Tom, give me your views on what sort of a work it is;--let's hear." "Why, even a poor fellow like me has a work from the Lord; and Mas'r St.
Clare, that has larnin, and riches, and friends,--how much he might do for the Lord!" "Tom, you seem to think the Lord needs a great deal done for him," said St.Clare, smiling.
"We does for the Lord when we does for his critturs," said Tom.
"Good theology, Tom; better than Dr.B.preaches, I dare swear," said St.Clare.
The conversation was here interrupted by the announcement of some visitors.
Marie St.Clare felt the loss of Eva as deeply as she could feel anything; and, as she was a woman that had a great faculty of making everybody unhappy when she was, her immediate attendants had still stronger reason to regret the loss of their young mistress, whose winning ways and gentle intercessions had so often been a shield to them from the tyrannical and selfish exactions of her mother.