Irene was glad to be sitting or she feared her legs might have given out at the kind words from the clerk.  Had she mistaken his smiles for smirks, thinking he was on the side of the rabble when in reality he was tossing her a crumb of friendship?  Good heavens, she mused.  How many others did her own lack of self-worth change from friend to foe?<br/><br/>She got to her feet and follwed the men to the counter.  "Thank you, Mr. Hardy."  She held out her hand and the man hesitated a moment before taking it and giving it a shake, patting their linked hands with his free hand.  She turned to Sam, curious to find out if he was really ready to sign his freedom away.<br/><br/>Irene smiled at Sam as he looked at her, her chin lifting slightly.  This man, she mused, was going to cause her to put on airs if he kept looking at her like a treasure.  She was about to step up to him and kiss him when she recalled that they were in public.<br/><br/>She watched the man bring out a big book and pen and ink.  Excitement started to burble inside her.   She bobbed on her toes, the heels of her ankle boots off the ground.  "Should we, Sam.  I mean, you can ruin a good thing with a piece of paper," she said, grinning.