Emily, who had scarcely heeded the provisions of the will until the
mention of her name attracted her attention, was, as may be supposed,
somewhat astonished to hear her own name in connection with a legacy.
She raised her sad eyes from the floor, and heard the other stipulations
in regard to her. So utterly unexpected, so terribly revolting, was the
clause which pronounced her a slave, that for a time she did not realize
its awful import. But the blank dismay of her friends, the
well-counterfeited surprise of Jaspar and Maxwell, brought her to a
painful sense of her position. She attempted to rise, but in the act the
color forsook her face, and she sunk back insensible. In this condition
she was conveyed to her room.
The attorney completed the reading of the will, though, after the
extraordinary incident which had just occurred, but little attention was
given him. The witnesses at once recognized the strange character, and
acknowledged the signatures to be genuine. Here, then, thought they, was
the reason why the provisions of the will had been concealed from them.
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