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           Ihadseenmanyregions,andhadshedmuchbloodindifferentlands,beforedutycalledmetotheislandsoftheWestIndies.Thereitwasmylottoformaconnectionwithonewhointimebecamemywife,andthemotherofCora.Shewasthedaughterofagentlemanofthoseisles,byaladywhosemisfortuneitwas,ifyouwill,"saidtheoldman,proudly,"tobedescended,remotely,fromthatunfortunateclasswhoaresobaselyenslavedtoadministertothewantsofaluxuriouspeople.Ay,sir,thatisacurseentailedonScotlandbyherunnaturalunionwithaforeignandtradingpeople.ButcouldIfindamanamongthemwhowoulddaretoreflectonmychild,heshouldfeeltheweightofafather’sanger!Ha!MajorHeyward,youareyourselfbornatthesouth,wheretheseunfortunatebeingsareconsideredofaraceinferiortoyourown."

           "’Tismostunfortunatelytrue,sir,"saidDuncan,unableanylongertopreventhiseyesfromsinkingtothefloorinembarrassment.

           "Andyoucastitonmychildasareproach!YouscorntominglethebloodoftheHeywardswithonesodegraded—lovelyandvirtuousthoughshebe?"fiercelydemandedthejealousparent.

           "Heavenprotectmefromaprejudicesounworthyofmyreason!"returnedDuncan,atthesametimeconsciousofsuchafeeling,andthatasdeeplyrootedasifithadbeeningraftedinhisnature."Thesweetness,thebeauty,thewitcheryofyouryoungerdaughter,ColonelMunro,mightexplainmymotives,withoutimputingtomethisinjustice."