His Other Wife: A Novel — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MISSIONARY WORR. 51 ‘When Iam dead, Maum Amy, you can go and find scme of your people in Mississippi,” said Rachel, to her cld nurse, a few days after this transaction. ‘Lord, missy! I ’spec’ de las’ one on ’em done dead and gone long ’fore dis time!” ‘‘What! Do you think sixteen years has exhausted the lives of your whole family, Maum Amy?” ‘“Dat’s true. “Tain’t been so long, but it ’pears like a monstrous long time since I lef’ dem on de ole planta- tion.” | It was a pathetic commentary on the way time had dragged by for the lonely old creature, away from the familiar scenes and faces of her past life. It was Mr. Croft’s habit to dismiss the old woman from her mistress’ bed-chamber at a certain hour each evening, and take upon himself the care of waiting upon the in- valid, and giving the prescriptions during the night. For some private reason, old Maum Amy chose to return, after an hour’s absence, on the night of the day during which her mistress had spoken with her of her approaching death. | With stealthy step the mulattress crossed the sitting- room adjoining the bed-chamber. It was near the hour for her mistress to take the opiate draught, without which her nights were sleepless and torturing. She knew this, and seemed desirous of seeing whether or not it was duly administered, and in what quantity; for, during several days past, she had observed that the invalid awoke in the Eomicbooks: (E(0) im