Двенадцать лет рабства

           Nooneissowellbeloved—noonefillssolargeaspaceintheheartsofathousandslaves,asyoungMadamMcCoy,theorphanmistressoftheoldNorwoodestate. 

           Onmyarrivalatherplace,Ifoundtwoorthreehundredhadassembled. Thetablewaspreparedinalongbuilding,whichshehaderectedexpresslyforherslavestodancein. Itwascoveredwitheveryvarietyoffoodthecountryafforded,andwaspronouncedbygeneralacclamationtobetherarestofdinners. Roastturkey,pig,chicken,duck,andallkindsofmeat,baked,boiled,andbroiled,formedalinethewholelengthoftheextendedtable,whilethevacantspaceswerefilledwithtarts,jellies,andfrostedcake,andpastryofmanykinds. Theyoungmistresswalkedaroundthetable,smilingandsayingakindwordtoeachone,andseemedtoenjoythesceneexceedingly. 

           Whenthedinnerwasoverthetableswereremovedtomakeroomforthedancers. Itunedmyviolinandstruckupalivelyair; whilesomejoinedinanimblereel,otherspattedandsangtheirsimplebutmelodioussongs,fillingthegreatroomwithmusicmingledwiththesoundofhumanvoicesandtheclatterofmanyfeet. 

           Intheeveningthemistressreturned,andstoodinthedooralongtime,lookingatus. Shewasmagnificentlyarrayed. Herdarkhairandeyescontrastedstronglywithherclearanddelicatecomplexion. Herformwasslenderbutcommanding,andhermovementwasacombinationofunaffecteddignityandgrace.