I did not suffer by my master's death, for his widow kept me in her service.

I had attended on Mr.Norcross all through his last illness, and had made myself useful enough to win my mistress's favor and gratitude.

Besides me she also retained her maid in her service--a quadroon woman named Josephine, whom she brought with her from the West Indies.

Even at that time I disliked the half-breed's wheedling manners, and her cruel, tawny face, and wondered how my mistress could be so fond of her as she was.

Time showed that I was right in distrusting this woman.