NIGHT AND MORNING
slightly raised and so tender that the slightest touch was agonizing.
The sight recalled vividly the power with which the huge negro had torn her from the grip of the flood and thrust her across the beam. She knew that Giles's strength was far beyond the average, yet this Haytian had done with ease what Giles, even in the desperation of the moment had never thought to attempt; the reflection of this thrilled the girl and for the instant swept away the horror inspired by the imprints upon her arm. She held back the filmy sleeve and looked long at the disfigurements; fascinated, magnetized, spellbound, staring with flushed cheeks, luminous eyes almost yellow as the pupils contracted against the glare of the lamp, and then, suddenly, the reaction came; the revulsion, the horror at thus wearing the mark of this negro. Shivering, she crept back to bed where for a long time she lay struggling with the all but irresistible impulse to steal back into the hall and stare at those frightful marks. At last she fell asleep.
Daylight dispelled the black aura of the night. Virginia descended to find that Giles, according to his character, had given a modest account of his part in the accident, cloaking all references to the foolish caprice which had caused it and making no mention of his own plucky efforts, but dwelling at great length upon the cool courage shown by the girl. Of course, Dessalines was the hero of the adventure and received the warmest praise, but Virginia had an uncomfortable feeling that Manning's praise was less unstinted than that of the others.
As Virginia entered the breakfast room Sir Henry was reading a note which had just arrived from Dessa-
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