You must try and do something with her." "The child has improved greatly," said Miss Ophelia.

"I have great hopes of her; but, Augustine," she said, laying her hand on his arm, "one thing I want to ask; whose is this child to be ?--yours or mine ?" "Why, I gave her to you," said Augustine.
"But not legally;--I want her to be mine legally," said Miss Ophelia.
"Whew! cousin," said Augustine.

"What will the Abolition Society think?
They'll have a day of fasting appointed for this backsliding, if you become a slaveholder!" "O, nonsense! I want her mine, that I may have a right to take her to the free States, and give her her liberty, that all I am trying to do be not undone." "O, cousin, what an awful 'doing evil that good may come'! I can't encourage it." "I don't want you to joke, but to reason," said Miss Ophelia.

"There is no use in my trying to make this child a Christian child, unless I save her from all the chances and reverses of slavery; and, if you really are willing I should have her, I want you to give me a deed of gift, or some legal paper." "Well, well," said St.Clare, "I will;" and he sat down, and unfolded a newspaper to read.
"But I want it done now," said Miss Ophelia.
"What's your hurry ?" "Because now is the only time there ever is to do a thing in," said Miss Ophelia.

"Come, now, here's paper, pen, and ink; just write a paper." St.Clare, like most men of his class of mind, cordially hated the present tense of action, generally; and, therefore, he was considerably annoyed by Miss Ophelia's downrightness.
"Why, what's the matter ?" said he.