Though her cousin had a great many , and was kind to them , she could not help seeing that it was a very wicked thing to buy and sell men and women as if they were cattle . She was very , very sorry for the poor slaves , and would have liked to free them all . Yet she did not love them . She could not bear even to have them near her , nor to touch them , just because they were black . -LSB- Illustration -RSB- It made her quite ill to see Eva kissing and hugging the black slave women when she came home . ` Well , I could n't do that , ' she said . ` Why not ? ' said Mr. St. Clare , who was looking on . ` Well , I want to be kind to every one . I would n't have anybody hurt . But , as to kissing niggers -- ' she gave a little shudder . ` How can she ? ' Presently a gay laugh sounded from the court . Mr. St. Clare stepped out to see what was happening . ` What is it ? ' said Miss Ophelia , following him . There sat Tom on a little mossy seat in the court . 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 , XXXXX , you look so funny ! '
Clare Eva Illustration Ophelia Tom court kind laugh shudder sparrow