Every one of his buttonholes was stuck full of flowers . Eva , laughing gaily , was hanging a wreath of roses round his neck . Then , still laughing , she perched on his knee like a little sparrow . ` Oh , Tom , you look so funny ! ' Tom had a sober smile on his face . He seemed in his own quiet way to be enjoying the fun quite as much as his little mistress . When he lifted his eyes and saw his master he looked as if he were afraid he might be scolded . But Mr. St. Clare only smiled . ` How can you let her do that ? ' said Miss Ophelia . ` Why not ? ' said Mr. St. Clare . ` Why ? I do n't know . It seems dreadful to me . ' ` You would think it was quite right and natural if you saw Eva playing with a large dog , even if he was black . But a fellow-creature that can think , and reason , and feel , and is immortal , you shudder at . I know how you north-country people feel about it . You loathe the blacks as you would a toad or a snake . Yet you pity them , and are angry because they are often ill-treated . '
` Well , cousin , ' said Miss Ophelia thoughtfully , ' I daresay you are XXXXX .
Clare Eva Mr. Ophelia Tom blacks face fellow-creature right sparrow