He was tall and handsome, a fine specimen of the best brain and heart of New England.

He had been nurtured under grand and ennobling influences.

His father was a devoted Abolitionist.
His mother was kind-hearted, but somewhat exclusive and aristocratic.
She would have looked upon his marriage with Iola as a mistake and feared that such an alliance would hurt the prospects of her daughters.
During Iola's stay in the North, she had learned enough of the racial feeling to influence her decision in reference to Dr.Gresham's offer.
Iola, like other girls, had had her beautiful day-dreams before she was rudely awakened by the fate which had dragged her into the depths of slavery.

In the chambers of her imagery were pictures of noble deeds; of high, heroic men, knightly, tender, true, and brave.

In Dr.Gresham she saw the ideal of her soul exemplified.