"Hannibal might come in," she said, in a low tone. "He has no way of knowing that I do not wish to be interrupted."
He grew angry at the mention of that name. But the warning had its effect and he sat down, nearer to her than before, his heart beating rapidly.
"I hate the fellow!" he exclaimed bitterly. "It is a good thing I am going away, or I should strike him some day for his insolence!"
Daisy paled at the vehemence of her companion.
"Has he been insolent to you?" she murmured.
"To me? He would not dare! What angers me is the way he speaks to the rest of you. He came with your cloak that night, acting as if he was your master, instead of your servant. I have heard him speak to Mr. Fern in a way that made me want to kick him! Why does your father bear it? Why do you? Has Hannibal some mysterious hold on his situation?"
The girl heard him patiently, though the roses did not come at once to her white cheek.
"I am afraid," she said, when he had finished his tirade, "that you despise him for his color. It is a prejudice that seems to me--and to my father--unchristian and uncharitable. Perhaps, in the anxiety to make Hannibal forget that God gave him a darker skin than ours, we may have gone to the other extreme, and treated him with too great consideration. But I think you overstate the case."
Her gentle words smote upon the ears that heard them, and in a moment Roseleaf was affected by the most lively contrition. Without attempting to excuse himself he begged her pardon, which she readily granted.
His tone was so sad that Daisy assured him he ought to have no doubt of that.
"I understand," she added, "that you have probably helped Millie to a reputation that she craves above everything, and she ought not to prove entirely ungrateful. We have enjoyed your stay here, and shall be most sorry to have you go. I should be glad to think you would honor us with your company to dinner not less often than once each week."
For the first time a ray of light came into his face.
"Oh, may I?" he cried. "Then I shall not be shut off entirely from seeing you?"
"No, indeed," she answered. "Father likes you and Mr. Weil too well--you will bring him, of course. Once a week, at least--if it were twice it wouldn't do any harm; and if it were three times--"